Today the Ash Wednesday, this marks the start of Lent. During this 40-day period of penance, prayer and fasting, Christians strive to imitate Jesus Christ’s actions and prepare for the celebration of Easter as they reflect on his life, death and resurrection. Besides Roman Catholics, other Western Christian groups that observe Lent include Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans and Anglicans. This year, the Lenten season begins Wednesday, February 10, known as Ash Wednesday, and ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter, on March 26. There are technically 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter, but Christians were forbidden to fast on Sundays, a day of worship and rest. Eastern Orthodox Christians, who follow a different calendar, begin observing Lent in the fourth century, during which they typically abstained from luxury foods like meat, dairy products and eggs. Today Roman Catholics refrain from eating meat on Fridays during the Lenten season. Eastern Orthodox Christians, however, follow stricter fasting rules where no meat, eggs or dairy products are allowed. However, fish can be eaten on Palm Sunday, March 20. Apart from fasting, Christians can also imitate Christ’s life by voluntarily refraining from so-called bad habits during the 40-day period, such as eating sweets or watching television. Rather than abstain from bad habits, other Lent observers will pick up good ones during the 40-day period, such as saying a prayer each day for a loved one, friend or even a stranger.
Lent was originally referred to as Quadragesima, which is the Latin word for forty. The Lenten season lasts 40 days to symbolize the 40 days Jesus Christ spent fasting in the desert after he was baptized by John the Baptist, according to catechism of the Roman Catholic Church. Lent is the 40 day long penitential period in the Catholic Church immediately prior to the Paschal Feast (Easter) the greatest feast in the Church. The Eastern Catholic churches call this period Great Lent. There is a strong Biblical foundation for observing a 40 day period of penance and/or anticipation. The Scriptures are full of the significance, perhaps only known to God, of the number 40. In the Old Testament, God punished mankind by sending flood over the earth for 40 days and nights. The people of Nineveh repented of their sins with 40 days of fasting. The Prophet Ezekiel lay on his right side for 40 days as a precursor to the siege and destruction of Jerusalem. The Prophet Elijah fasted and prayed for 40 days on Mount Horeb. Moses fasted 40 days and nights while on Mount Sinai. Moses and the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 penitential years until they entered the Promised Land. We model our 40 day season of Lent today on this holy tradition, established throughout Salvation History, the story of God’s relationship with humanity. Most importantly we observe these 40 days of Lent in imitation of Our Lord- the example for us all. Very early in the history of the Church, the practices and duration of Lent became more regulated with the Church Fathers encouraging the practice of the 40 day period of fasting prior to the more intense fasting of Holy Week. By the end of the fourth century, it was well established in the Church that Lent’s duration was 40 days and that prayer and fasting constituted its primary spiritual exercises. Unto this very day, we observe 40 days of penitential practices, typically of prayer and fasting because we take Jesus as our model, to prepare ourselves for the Paschal feast, that is, Easter. The Catechism tells us “By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert.” (Catholic Catechism #540).
Conclusion: The Catholic Church, in an attempt to help Catholics do at least a minimum during Lent, asks all Catholics to fast and abstain from meat on certain days. Fasting means to limit food to one full meal a day with the possibility of two smaller meals (not adding up to a full meal) as needed. Abstinence means not eating meat, although fish is allowed. Catholics are asked to observe all days of fasting and abstinence which is one of the precepts of the Church. Catholics 14 years of age or older are to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent. Catholics between the ages of 14 and 59 are also to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. If one’s work or health makes it inadvisable to fast or abstain from meat, they are not obligated to do so.
Fr. C. Joseph- Counsellor,
St. Joseph’s College, Jakhama
