Lent (Latin: Quadragesima: Fortieth) is a
solemn religious observance in the Christian
liturgical calendar that begins on Ash Wednesday
and ends approximately six weeks later, before
Easter Sunday. The purpose of Lent is the
preparation of the believer for Easter through
prayer, doing penance, mortifying the flesh,
repentance of sins, almsgiving, and self-denial.
This event is observed in the Anglican, Eastern
Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist,
and Catholic Churches. Some Anabaptist and
evangelical churches also observe the Lenten
season. Its institutional purpose is heightened
in the annual commemoration of Holy Week,
marking the death, burial, and resurrection
of Jesus, which recalls the tradition and
events of the New Testament beginning on Palm
Sunday, further climaxing on Jesus' crucifixion
on Good Friday, which ultimately culminates
in the joyful celebration on Easter Sunday
of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In Lent, many Christians commit to fasting,
as well as giving up certain luxuries in order
to replicate the sacrifice of Jesus Christ's
journey into the desert for 40 days. Many
Christians also add a Lenten spiritual discipline,
such as reading a daily devotional or praying
through a Lenten calendar, to draw themselves
near to God. The Stations of the Cross, a
devotional commemoration of Christ's carrying
the Cross and of his execution, are often
observed. Many Roman Catholic and some Protestant
churches remove flowers from their altars,
while crucifixes, religious statues, and other
elaborate religious symbols are often veiled
in violet fabrics in solemn observance of
the event. Throughout Christendom, some adherents
mark the season with the traditional abstention
from the consumption of meat, most notably
among Lutherans, Roman Catholics and Anglicans.Lent
is traditionally described as lasting for
40 days, in commemoration of the 40 days Jesus
spent fasting in the desert, according to
the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, before
beginning his public ministry, during which
he endured temptation by Satan. Depending
on the Christian denomination and local custom,
Lent ends on the evening of Holy Thursday
with Easter Vigil at sundown on Holy Saturday,
on the morning of Easter Sunday, or at the
midnight between them.
== Etymology ==
The English word Lent is a shortened form
of the Old English word len(c)ten, meaning
"spring season", as its Dutch language cognate
lente (Old Dutch lentin) still does today.
A dated term in German, Lenz (Old High German
lenzo), is also related. According to the
Oxford English Dictionary, 'the shorter form
(? Old Germanic type *laŋgito- , *laŋgiton-)
seems to be a derivative of *laŋgo- long
... and may possibly have reference to the
lengthening of the days as characterizing
the season of spring'. The origin of the -en
element is less clear: it may simply be a
suffix, or lencten may originally have been
a compound of *laŋgo- 'long' and an otherwise
little-attested word *-tino, meaning 'day'.In
languages spoken where Christianity was earlier
established, such as Greek and Latin, the
term signifies the period dating from the
40th day before Easter. In modern Greek the
term is Σαρακοστή, derived from the
earlier Τεσσαρακοστή, meaning
"fortieth". The corresponding word in Latin,
quadragesima ("fortieth"), is the origin of
the term used in Latin-derived languages and
in some others: for example, Croatian korizma,
French carême, Irish carghas, Italian quaresima,
Portuguese quaresma, Albanian kreshma, Romanian
păresimi, Spanish cuaresma, Basque garizuma
and Welsh c(a)rawys.
In other languages, the name used refers to
the activity associated with the season. Thus
it is called "fasting period" in Czech (postní
doba), German (Fastenzeit), and Norwegian
(fasten/fastetid), and it is called "great
fast" in Polish (wielki post) and Russian
(великий пост – veliki post).
The terms used in Filipino are kuwaresma (from
the Spanish) and Mahál na Araw ("precious/great
days"); the latter term is also used specifically
for Holy Week.
== Duration and traditions ==
Various Christian denominations calculate
the 40 days of Lent differently. The way they
observe Lent also differs.
=== Roman Catholicism ===
In the Roman Rite Lent starts on Ash Wednesday
and finishes on Holy Saturday. This comprises
a period of 46 days. This includes six Sundays
which are not considered part of Lent.In the
Ambrosian Rite, Lent begins on the Sunday
that follows what is celebrated as Ash Wednesday
in the rest of the Latin Catholic Church,
and ends as in the Roman Rite, thus being
of 40 days, counting the Sundays but not Holy
Thursday. The day for beginning the Lenten
fast is the following Monday, the first weekday
in Lent. The special Ash Wednesday fast is
transferred to the first Friday of the Ambrosian
Lent. Until this rite was revised by Saint
Charles Borromeo the liturgy of the First
Sunday of Lent was festive, celebrated in
white vestments with chanting of the Gloria
in Excelsis and Alleluia, in line with the
recommendation in Matthew 6:16, "When you
fast, do not look gloomy".The period of Lent
observed in the Eastern Catholic Churches
corresponds to that in other churches of Eastern
Christianity that have similar traditions.
=== Protestantism and Western Orthodoxy ===
In Protestant and Western Orthodox Churches,
the season of Lent lasts from Ash Wednesday
to Holy Saturday. This calculation makes Lent
last 46 days, if the 6 Sundays are included,
but only 40, if they are excluded, This definition
is still that of the Anglican Church, Lutheran
Church, Methodist Church, and Western Rite
Orthodox Church.
=== Eastern Orthodoxy and Byzantine Rite ===
In the Byzantine Rite, i.e., the Eastern Orthodox
Great Lent (Greek: Μεγάλη Τεσσαρακοστή
or Μεγάλη Νηστεία, meaning "Great
40 Days" and "Great Fast" respectively) is
the most important fasting season in the church
year.The 40 days of Great Lent includes Sundays,
and begins on Clean Monday and are immediately
followed by what are considered distinct periods
of fasting, Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday,
which in turn are followed straightway by
Holy Week. Great Lent is broken only after
the Paschal (Easter) Divine Liturgy.
The Eastern Orthodox Church maintains the
traditional Church's teaching on fasting.
The rules for lenten fasting are the monastic
rules. Fasting in the Orthodox Church is more
than simply abstaining from certain foods.
During the Great Lent Orthodox Faithful intensify
their prayers and spiritual exercises, go
to church services more often, study the Scriptures
and the works of the Church Fathers in depth,
limit their entertainment and spendings and
focus on charity and good works.
=== Oriental Orthodoxy ===
Among the Oriental Orthodox, there are various
local traditions regarding Lent. Those using
the Alexandrian Rite, i.e., the Coptic Orthodox,
Coptic Catholic, Ethiopian Orthodox, Ethiopian
Catholic, Eritrean Orthodox, and Eritrean
Catholic Churches, observe eight weeks of
Lent.
In Ethiopian Orthodoxy, fasting (tsome) lasts
for 55 continuous days before Easter (Fasika),
although the fast is divided into three separate
periods: Tsome Hirkal, eight days commemorating
an early Christian figure; Tsome Arba, 40
days of Lent; and Tsome Himamat, seven days
commemorating Holy Week. Fasting involves
abstention from animal products (meat, dairy,
and eggs), and refraining from eating or drinking
before 3:00 pm. Ethiopian devotees may also
abstain from sexual activity and the consumption
of alcohol.As in the Eastern Orthodox Churches,
the date of Easter is reckoned according to
the Julian Calendar, and usually occurs later
than Easter according to Gregorian Calendar
used by Catholic and Protestant Churches.
== Other related fasting periods ==
The number 40 has many Biblical references:
Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai with God
(Exodus 24:18)
Elijah spent 40 days and nights walking to
Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8)
God sent 40 days and nights of rain in the
great flood of Noah (Genesis 7:4)
The Hebrew people wandered 40 years in the
desert while traveling to the Promised Land
(Numbers 14:33)
Jonah's prophecy of judgment gave 40 days
to the city of Nineveh in which to repent
or be destroyed (Jonah 3:4).
Jesus retreated into the wilderness, where
He fasted for 40 days, and was tempted by
the devil (Matthew 4:1–2, Mark 1:12–13,
Luke 4:1–2). He overcame all three of Satan's
temptations by citing scripture to the devil,
at which point the devil left him, angels
ministered to Jesus, and He began His ministry.
Jesus further said that His disciples should
fast "when the bridegroom shall be taken from
them" (Matthew 9:15), a reference to his Passion.
Since, presumably, the Apostles fasted as
they mourned the death of Jesus, Christians
have traditionally fasted during the annual
commemoration of his burial.
It is the traditional belief that Jesus lay
for 40 hours in the tomb, which led to the
40 hours of total fasting that preceded the
Easter celebration in the early Church (the
biblical reference to 'three days in the tomb'
is understood by them as spanning three days,
from Friday afternoon to early Sunday morning,
rather than three 24-hour periods of time).
Some Christian denominations, such as The
Way International and Logos Apostolic Church
of God, as well as Anglican scholar E. W.
Bullinger in The Companion Bible, believe
Christ was in the grave for a total of 72
hours, reflecting the type of Jonah in the
belly of the whale.One of the most important
ceremonies at Easter is the baptism of the
initiates on Easter Eve. The fast was initially
undertaken by the catechumens to prepare them
for the reception of this sacrament. Later,
the period of fasting from Good Friday until
Easter Day was extended to six days, to correspond
with the six weeks of training necessary to
give the final instruction to those converts
who were to be baptized.Converts to Christianity
followed a strict catechumenate or period
of instruction and discipline prior to receiving
the sacrament of baptism, sometimes lasting
up to three years. In Jerusalem near the close
of the fourth century, classes were held throughout
Lent for three hours each day. With the legalization
of Christianity (by the Edict of Milan) and
its later imposition as the state religion
of the Roman Empire, its character was endangered
by the great influx of new members. In response,
the Lenten fast and practices of self-renunciation
were required annually of all Christians,
both to show solidarity with the catechumens,
and for their own spiritual benefit.
== Associated customs ==
There are traditionally 40 days in Lent; these
are marked by fasting, both from foods and
festivities, and by other acts of penance.
The three traditional practices to be taken
up with renewed vigour during Lent are prayer
(justice towards God), fasting (justice towards
self), and almsgiving (justice towards neighbours).
However, in modern times, observers give up
partaking in vices and often invest the time
or money saved in charitable purposes or organizations.In
addition, some believers add a regular spiritual
discipline, to bring them closer to God, such
as reading a Lenten daily devotional. Another
practice commonly added is the singing of
the Stabat Mater hymn in designated groups.
Among Filipino Catholics, the recitation of
Jesus Christ' passion, called Pasiong Mahal,
is also observed. In some Christian countries,
grand religious processions and cultural customs
are observed, and the faithful attempt to
visit seven churches during Holy Week in honor
of Jesus Christ heading to Mount Calvary.In
many liturgical Christian denominations, Good
Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday form
the Easter Triduum. Lent is a season of grief
that necessarily ends with a great celebration
of Easter. Thus, it is known in Eastern Orthodox
circles as the season of "Bright Sadness".
It is a season of sorrowful reflection which
is punctuated by breaks in the fast on Sundays.
== Omission of Gloria and Alleluia ==
The Gloria in excelsis Deo, which is usually
said or sung on Sundays at Mass (or Communion)
of the Roman and Anglican rites, is omitted
on the Sundays of Lent, but continues in use
on solemnities and feasts and on special celebrations
of a more solemn kind. Some mass compositions
were written especially for Lent, such as
Michael Haydn's Missa tempore Quadragesimae,
without Gloria, in D minor, and for modest
forces, only choir and organ. The Gloria is
used on Maundy Thursday, to the accompaniment
of bells, which then fall silent until the
Gloria in excelsis of the Easter Vigil.The
Lutheran Divine Service, the Roman Rite of
the Catholic Church and the Presbyterian service
of worship associate the Alleluia with joy
and omit it entirely throughout Lent, not
only at Mass but also in the canonical hours
and outside the liturgy. The word "Alleluia"
at the beginning and end of the Acclamation
Before the Gospel at Mass is replaced by another
phrase.
Before 1970, the omission began with Septuagesima,
and the whole Acclamation was omitted and
was replaced by a Tract; and in the Liturgy
of the Hours the word "Alleluia", normally
added to the Gloria Patri at the beginning
of each Hour - now simply omitted during Lent
- was replaced by the phrase Laus tibi, Domine,
rex aeternae gloriae (Praise to you, O Lord,
king of eternal glory).
Until the Ambrosian Rite was revised by Saint
Charles Borromeo the liturgy of the First
Sunday of Lent was festive, celebrated with
chanting of the Gloria and Alleluia, in line
with the recommendation in Matthew 6:16, "When
you fast, do not look gloomy".In the Byzantine
Rite, the Gloria (Great Doxology) continues
to be used in its normal place in the Matins
service, and the Alleluia appears all the
more frequently, replacing "God is the Lord"
at Matins.
== Veiling of religious images ==
In certain pious Christian states, in which
liturgical forms of Christianity predominate,
religious objects were traditionally veiled
for the entire 40 days of Lent. Though perhaps
uncommon in the United States of America,
this pious practice is consistently observed
in Goa, Malta, Peru, the Philippines (the
latter only for the entire duration of Holy
Week, with the exception of processional images),
and in the Spanish cities: Barcelona, Málaga,
and Seville. In Ireland, before Vatican II,
when impoverished rural Catholic convents
and parishes could not afford purple fabrics,
they resorted to either removing the statues
altogether or, if too heavy or bothersome,
turned the statues to face the wall. As is
popular custom, the 14 Stations of the Cross
plaques on the walls are not veiled.
Crucifixes made before the time of Saint Francis
of Assisi did not have a corpus (body of Christ)
and therefore were adorned with jewels and
gemstones, which was referred to as Crux Gemmatae.
To keep the faithful from adoring the crucifixes
elaborated with ornamentation, veiling it
in royal purple fabrics came into place. The
violet colour later evolved as a color of
penance and mourning.
Further liturgical changes in modernity reduced
such observances to the last week of Passiontide.
In parishes that could afford only small quantities
of violet fabrics, only the heads of the statues
were veiled. If no violet fabrics could be
afforded at all, then the religious statues
and images were turned around facing the wall.
Flowers were always removed as a sign of solemn
mourning.
In the pre-1992 Methodist liturgy and pre-1970
forms of the Roman Rite, the last two weeks
of Lent are known as Passiontide, a period
beginning on the Fifth Sunday in Lent, which
in the 1962 edition of the Roman Missal is
called the First Sunday in Passiontide and
in earlier editions Passion Sunday. All statues
(and in England paintings as well) in the
church were traditionally veiled in violet.
This was seen as in keeping with the Gospel
of that Sunday (John 8:46–59), in which
Jesus "hid himself" from the people.
Within many churches in the United States
of America, after the Second Vatican Council,
the need to veil statues or crosses became
increasingly irrelevant and was deemed unnecessary
by some diocesan bishops. As a result, the
veils were removed at the singing of the Gloria
in Excelsis Deo during the Easter Vigil. In
1970, the name "Passiontide" was dropped,
although the last two weeks are markedly different
from the rest of the season, and continuance
of the tradition of veiling images is left
to the discretion of a country's conference
of bishops or even to individual parishes
as pastors may wish.
On Good Friday, the Anglican, Lutheran, and
Methodist churches traditionally veiled "all
pictures, statutes, and the cross are covered
in mourning black", while "the chancel and
altar coverings are replaced with black, and
altar candles are extinguished". The fabrics
are then "replaced with white on sunrise on
Easter Sunday".
== Pre-Lenten festivals ==
The carnival celebrations which in many cultures
traditionally precede Lent are seen as a last
opportunity for excess before Lent begins.
Some of the most famous are the Carnival of
Barranquilla, the Carnival of Santa Cruz de
Tenerife, the Carnival of Venice, Cologne
Carnival, the New Orleans Mardi Gras, the
Rio de Janeiro carnival, and the Trinidad
and Tobago Carnival.
The day immediately preceding Lent is variously
called Mardi Gras ("Fat Tuesday"), Pancake
Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday. Sometimes, it
is the peak of the pre-Lenten festival, while
sometimes it is largely occupied with preparations
for Lent. The observances vary from culture
to culture, and even from town to town.
Originally, in Lebanon and Syria, the last
Thursday preceding Lent was called "Khamis
el zakara". For Catholics, it was meant to
be a day of remembrance of the dead ones.
However, zakara (which means "remembrance",
in Arabic) was gradually replaced by sakara
(meaning "getting drunk" in Arabic), and so
the occasion came to be known as Khamis el
sakara, wherein celebrants indulge themselves
with alcoholic beverages.
== Fasting and abstinence ==
Fasting during Lent was more prominent in
ancient times than today. Socrates Scholasticus
reports that in some places, all animal products
were strictly forbidden, while various others
permitted fish, or fish and fowl, others prohibited
fruit and eggs, and still others permitted
only bread. In many places, the observant
abstained from food for a whole day until
the evening, and at sunset, Western Christians
traditionally broke the Lenten fast, which
was often known as the Black Fast. In India
and Pakistan, many Christians continue this
practice of fasting until sunset on Ash Wednesday
and Good Friday, with some fasting in this
manner throughout the whole season of Lent.For
other Latin Catholics, by the early 20th century
the theoretical obligation of the penitential
fast throughout Lent except on Sundays was
to take only one full meal a day. In addition,
a smaller meal, called a collation, was allowed
in the evening, and a cup of some beverage,
accompanied by a little bread, in the morning.
In practice, this obligation, which was a
matter of custom rather than of written law,
was not observed strictly. The 1917 Code of
Canon Law allowed the full meal on a fasting
day to be taken at any hour and to be supplemented
by two collations, with the quantity and the
quality of the food to be determined by local
custom. The Lenten fast ended on Holy Saturday
at noon. Only those aged 21 to 59 were obliged
to fast. As with all merely ecclesiastical
laws, particular difficulties, such as strenuous
work or illness, excused one from observance,
and a dispensation from the law could be granted
by a bishop or parish priest. In addition
to fasting, abstinence from meat was to be
observed on Ash Wednesday and on Fridays and
Saturdays in Lent. A rule of thumb is that
the two collations should not add up to the
equivalent of another full meal. Rather portions
were to be: "sufficient to sustain strength,
but not sufficient to satisfy hunger". The
apostolic constitution Paenitemini of 17 February
1966 reduced the fasting days to two: Ash
Wednesday and Good Friday, and allowed episcopal
conferences to "substitute abstinence and
fast wholly or in part with other forms of
penitence and especially works of charity
and the exercises of piety". This was made
part of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, which
made obligatory fasting for those aged between
18 and 59, and abstinence for those aged 14
and upward. The Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference
decided to allow other forms of Friday penance
to replace that of abstinence from meat, whether
in Lent or outside Lent, suggesting alternatives
such as abstaining from some other food, or
from alcohol or smoking; making a special
effort at participating in family prayer or
in Mass; making the Stations of the Cross;
or helping the poor, sick, old, or lonely.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England
and Wales made a similar ruling in 1985 but
decided in 2011 to restore the traditional
year-round Friday abstinence from meat. The
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
has maintained the rule of abstention from
meat on Friday only during Lent.Many Lutheran
Churches advocate fasting during designated
times such as Lent, especially on Ash Wednesday
and Good Friday. A Handbook for the Discipline
of Lent delineates the following Lutheran
fasting guidelines:
Fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday with
only one simple meal during the day, usually
without meat.
Refrain from eating meat (bloody foods) on
all Fridays in Lent, substituting fish for
example.
Eliminate a food or food group for the entire
season. Especially consider saving rich and
fatty foods for Easter.
Consider not eating before receiving Communion
in Lent.
Abstain from or limit a favorite activity
(television, movies, etc.) for the entire
season, and spend more time in prayer, Bible
study, and reading devotional material.
The historic Methodist homilies regarding
the Sermon on the Mount stress the importance
of the Lenten fast, which begins on Ash Wednesday.
The United Methodist Church therefore states
that:
There is a strong biblical base for fasting,
particularly during the 40 days of Lent leading
to the celebration of Easter. Jesus, as part
of his spiritual preparation, went into the
wilderness and fasted 40 days and 40 nights,
according to the Gospels.
Good Friday, which is towards the end of the
Lenten season, is traditionally an important
day of communal fasting for Methodists. Rev.
Jacqui King, the minister of Nu Faith Community
United Methodist Church in Houston explained
the philosophy of fasting during Lent as "I'm
not skipping a meal because in place of that
meal I'm actually dining with God".Many of
the Churches in the Reformed tradition retained
the Lenten fast in its entirety. The Reformed
Church in America describes the first day
of Lent, Ash Wednesday, as a day "focused
on prayer, fasting, and repentance" and considers
fasting a focus of the whole Lenten season,
as demonstrated in the "Invitation to Observe
a Lenten Discipline", found in the Reformed
liturgy for the Ash Wednesday service, which
is read by the presider:
We begin this holy season by acknowledging
our need for repentance and our need for the
love and forgiveness shown to us in Jesus
Christ. I invite you, therefore, in the name
of Christ, to observe a Holy Lent, by self-examination
and penitence, by prayer and fasting, by practicing
works of love, and by reading and reflecting
on God's Holy Word.
Good Friday, which is towards the end of the
Lenten season, is traditionally an important
day of communal fasting for adherents of the
Reformed faith.During the early Middle Ages,
eggs, dairy products, and meat were generally
forbidden. In favour of the traditional practice,
observed both in East and West, Thomas Aquinas
argued that "they afford greater pleasure
as food [than fish], and greater nourishment
to the human body, so that from their consumption
there results a greater surplus available
for seminal matter, which when abundant becomes
a great incentive to lust." Aquinas also authorized
the consumption of candy during Lent, because
"sugared spices" (such as comfits) were, in
his opinion, digestive aids on par with medicine
rather than food.
In Spain, the bull of the Holy Crusade (renewed
periodically after 1492) allowed the consumption
of dairy products and eggs during Lent in
exchange for a contribution to the cause of
the crusade.
Giraldus Cambrensis, in his Itinerary of Archbishop
Baldwin through Wales, reports that "in Germany
and the arctic regions", "great and religious
persons" eat the tail of beavers as "fish"
because of its superficial resemblance to
"both the taste and colour of fish". The animal
was very abundant in Wales at the time.In
current Western societies the practice is
considerably relaxed, though in the Eastern
Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic
Churches, abstinence from all animal products
including eggs, fish, fowl, and milk sourced
from animals (e.g., cows and goats, as opposed
to the milk of coconuts and soy beans) is
still commonly practiced, so that, where this
is observed, only vegetarian (or vegan) meals
are consumed for the whole of Lent, 45 days
in the Byzantine Rite.
In the Western Catholic Church, the obligation
to fast no longer applies to all weekdays
of Lent (40 days), but only to Ash Wednesday
and Good Friday. In the tradition of this
part of the Catholic Church, abstinence from
eating some form of food (generally meat,
but not dairy or fish products) is distinguished
from fasting. Fasting involves having during
the day only one proper meal with up to two
"collations", light meatless meals sufficient
to maintain strength but not adding up to
the equivalent of a full meal. In principle,
abstinence is to be observed on Ash Wednesday
and on every Friday of the year that is not
a solemnity (a liturgical feast day of the
highest rank); but in each country the episcopal
conference can determine the form it is to
take, perhaps replacing abstinence with other
forms of penance.Present canonical legislation
on these matters follows the 1966 Apostolic
Constitution of Pope Paul VI, Paenitemini,
in which he recommended that fasting be appropriate
to the local economic situation and that all
Catholics voluntarily fast and abstain. He
also allowed replacing fasting and abstinence
with prayer and works of charity in countries
with a lower standard of living. The law of
abstinence binds those age 14 or over, and
that of fast binds those who are at least
18 years of age and not yet 60. The sick and
those who have special needs are excused,
and dispensations can be granted by episcopal
conferences or individual bishops, which can
be wider outside of Lent. Even during Lent,
the rule about solemnities holds, so that
the obligation of Friday abstinence does not
apply on 19 and 25 March when, as usually
happens, the solemnities of Saint Joseph and
the Annunciation are celebrated on those dates.
The same applies to Saint Patrick's Day, which
is a solemnity in the whole of Ireland as
well as in dioceses that have Saint Patrick
as principal patron saint. In some other places,
too, where there are strong Irish traditions
within the Catholic community, a dispensation
is granted for that day. In Hong Kong, where
Ash Wednesday often coincides with Chinese
New Year celebrations, a dispensation is then
granted from the laws of fast and abstinence,
and the faithful are exhorted to use some
other form of penance.After the Protestant
Reformation, in the Lutheran Church, "Church
orders of the 16th century retained the observation
of the Lenten fast, and Lutherans have observed
this season with a serene, earnest attitude."
In the Anglican Churches, the Traditional
Saint Augustine's Prayer Book: A Book of Devotion
for Members of the Anglican Communion, a companion
to the Book of Common Prayer, states that
fasting is "usually meaning not more than
a light breakfast, one full meal, and one
half meal, on the forty days of Lent". It
further states that "the major Fast Days of
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, as the American
Prayer-Book indicates, are stricter in obligation,
though not in observance, than the other Fast
Days, and therefore should not be neglected
except in cases of serious illness or other
necessity of an absolute character."
Traditionally, on Sunday, and during the hours
before sunrise and after sunset, some Churches,
such as Episcopalians, allow "breaks" in their
Lent promises. For Roman Catholics, the Lenten
penitential season ends after the Easter Vigil
Mass. Orthodox Christians also break their
fast after the Paschal Vigil, a service which
starts around 11:00 pm on Holy Saturday, and
which includes the Paschal celebration of
the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.
At the end of the service, the priest blesses
cheese, eggs, flesh meats, and other items
that the faithful have been abstaining from
for the duration of Great Lent.
Lenten traditions and liturgical practices
are less common, less binding, and sometimes
non-existent among some liberal and progressive
Christians, since these generally do not emphasize
piety and the mortification of the flesh as
a significant virtue. A greater emphasis on
anticipation of Easter Sunday is often encouraged
more than the penitence of Lent or Holy Week.Some
Christians as well as secular groups also
interpret the Lenten fast in a positive tone,
not as renunciation but as contributing to
causes such as environmental stewardship and
improvement of health. Even some atheists
find value in the Christian tradition and
observe Lent.
== Media coverage ==
During Lent, BBC's Radio Four normally broadcasts
a series of programmes called the Lent Talks.
These 15-minute programmes are normally broadcast
on a Wednesday and have featured various speakers,
such as John Lennox.
== Holy days within the season of Lent ==
There are several holy days within the season
of Lent:
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent in
Western Christianity, such as the Lutheran
Churches, Roman Rite of the Catholic Church,
Methodist Churches, Reformed traditions, etc.
In the Ambrosian Rite and the Mozarabic Rite,
there is no Ash Wednesday: Lent begins on
the first Sunday and the fast begins on the
first Monday.
The Sundays in Lent carry Latin names in German
Lutheranism, derived from the beginning of
the Sunday's introit. The first is called
Invocabit, the second Reminiscere, the third
Oculi, the fourth Laetare, the fifth Judica,
the sixth Palm Sunday.
The fourth Sunday in Lent, which marks the
halfway point between Ash Wednesday and Easter
Sunday, is referred to as Laetare Sunday by
Anglicans, Roman Catholics, and many other
Christians, because of the traditional Entrance
Antiphon of the Mass. Due to the more "joyful"
character of the day (since laetare in Latin
means "rejoice"), the priest, deacon, and
subdeacon have the option of wearing vestments
of a rose colour (pink) instead of violet.
Additionally, the fourth Lenten Sunday, Mothering
Sunday, which has become known as Mother's
Day in the United Kingdom and an occasion
for honouring mothers of children, has its
origin in a 16th-century celebration of the
Mother Church.
The fifth Sunday in Lent, also known in some
denominations as Passion Sunday (and in some
denominations also applies to Palm Sunday)
marks the beginning of Passiontide.
The sixth Sunday in Lent, commonly called
Palm Sunday, marks the beginning of Holy Week,
the final week of Lent immediately preceding
Easter.
Wednesday of Holy Week, Holy Wednesday (also
sometimes known as Spy Wednesday) commemorates
Judas Iscariot's bargain to betray Jesus.
Thursday of Holy Week is known as Maundy Thursday
or Holy Thursday, and is a day Christians
commemorate the Last Supper shared by Christ
with his disciples.
The next day is Good Friday, on which Christians
remember Jesus' crucifixion, death, and burial.
=== Easter Triduum ===
In the Anglican, Lutheran, Old Catholic, Roman
Catholic, and many other churches, the Easter
Triduum is a three-day event that begins Maundy
Thursday evening, with the entrance hymn of
the Mass of the Lord's Supper. After this
celebration, the consecrated Hosts are taken
solemnly from the altar to a place of reposition,
where the faithful are invited to meditate
in the presence of the consecrated Hosts.This
is the Church's response to Jesus' question
to the disciples sleeping in the Garden of
Gethsemane, "Could you not watch with me one
hour?" On the next day, the liturgical commemoration
of the Passion of Jesus Christ is celebrated
at 3 pm, unless a later time is chosen due
to work schedules.
This service consists of readings from the
Scriptures, especially John the Evangelist's
account of the Passion of Jesus, followed
by prayers, veneration of the cross of Jesus,
and a communion service at which the hosts
consecrated at the evening Mass of the day
before are distributed. The Easter Vigil during
the night between Holy Saturday afternoon
and Easter Sunday morning starts with the
blessing of a fire and a special candle, and
with readings from Scripture associated with
baptism. Then, the Gloria in Excelsis Deo
is sung, water is blessed, baptism and confirmation
of adults may take place, the people are invited
to renew the promises of their own baptism,
and finally, Mass is celebrated in the usual
way from the Preparation of the Gifts onwards.
Holy Week and the season of Lent, depending
on denomination and local custom, end with
Easter Vigil at sundown on Holy Saturday or
on the morning of Easter Sunday. It is custom
for some churches to hold sunrise services
which include open air celebrations in some
places.
== Vestments ==
In the Lutheran, Methodist, Reformed, Roman
Catholic, and many Anglican churches, the
pastor's vestments are violet during the season
of Lent. On the fourth Sunday in Lent, rose-coloured
(pink) vestments may be worn in lieu of violet.
Historically, black had also been used: Pope
Innocent III declared black to be the proper
color for Lent, though Durandus of Saint-Pourçain
claims violet has preference over black.In
some Anglican churches, a type of unbleached
linen or muslin known as "Lenten array" is
worn during the first three weeks of Lent,
crimson is worn during Passiontide, and on
holy days, the colour proper to the day is
worn. In certain other Anglican churches,
as an alternative to violet for all of Lent
except Holy Week and red beginning on Palm
Sunday through Holy Saturday, Lenten array,
typically made of sackcloth such as burlap
and trimmed with crimson cloth, often velvet,
is worn, even during Holy Week—since the
sackcloth represents penance and the crimson
edges represent the Passion of Christ. Even
the veils that cover the altar crosses or
crucifixes and statuary (if any) are made
of the same sackcloth with the crimson trim.
== See also ==
Christianity:
Fasting in the Eastern Orthodox Church
Fasting and abstinence in the Catholic Church
Fasting and abstinence of the Coptic Orthodox
Church of Alexandria
Fast of Nineveh
People's Sunday
QuinquagesimaIslam:
RamadanJudaism:
Counting of the Omer
Tisha B'Av
Yom KippurModern interpretations
Lent Event, asks people to donate the value
of what they forego during LentGeneral:
Asceticism
