Lent

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The Season of Lent is a reminder of fallen man's necessity to unite himself by a spirit of penance with Christ's work of Redemption. By fasting and other penitential exercises, Lent enables us to unite ourselves effectively with that work. There can be no Lent worthy of the name without a personal effort to make our lives better, to lead them with greater fidelity, and to make reparation for our past sins through the practice of"giving up something for Lent".

Lent is a long retreat where the church leads us to the practice of a more Christian life. It sets before us the example of Christ, and by fasting and penance unites us to His sufferings, in order to enable us to share in His Redemption.

We should remember that we are not alone, that it is not just we who are concerned with Lent. We belong to an immense body in which we are united with the whole of humanity to be redeemed by Christ. The Gospel of the first Sunday, the account of the Temptation of Christ, shows Him to us as the new head of humanity at grips with Satan's power, and overcoming him with Divine power. This is an assertion of Christ's victory over "the prince of this world" who was cast out of heaven.

The meaning of Lent for us is as a season of spiritual development, it is shared with the entire Church preparing to celebrate the Paschal mystery. Every year the entire Christian people, following Christ, takes up the struggle against evil, against Satan and the sinful man that each one of us bears within ourselves, in order to draw from the Easter mystery new life, from the very source of Divine Life, and to continue our journey to be with Him.

Fasting, like all the penitential exercises of Lent is offered to God in union with the sacrifice of the Cross, and is renewed at Mass.

The purple vestments are worn during Lent reminding us of the penance of Lent.

"O Lord, not according to our sins deal with us."

During Lent, we should

live as children of the light, performing actions good, just and true

(see Ep 5:1-9)

Info provided by Catholic Online

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