Lent (40 days and 40 nights)

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.  Mark 1:12–13

     

    I felt it would be appropriate to discuss Lent, seeing as there is now 9 days until it begins. Lent is the forty days' fast before Easter. Now, before you go saying "Wow, you have to fast for forty days?" let me explain a little.

    Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 14 this year). On Ash Wednesday, Catholics go to Mass and get ashes on their forehead in the shape of a cross. Ash Wednesday is our reminder that our bodies are finite, and we will all return to the dust that we were made of one day. This is not meant to scare us, we have to remember that we are mortal, and cannot live forever. Ashes also symbolize mourning, and we mourn for our sins and the suffering of Christ on the cross.

 On Ash Wednesday, we fast and abstain. Fasting is eating only one full meal all day. Abstaining is not eating meat. 

"Fasting is a biblical discipline that can be defended from both the Old and the New Testament. Christ expected his disciples to fast (Mt 9:14-15) and issued instructions for how they should do so (Mt 6:16-18). Catholics follow this pattern by holding a partial fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Abstinence from certain foods is also a biblical discipline. In Daniel 10:2-3 we read, 'In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.' Catholics use a practice similar to Daniel’s when, as a way of commemorating Christ’s Crucifixion on a Friday, they abstain from eating meat on that day of the week during Lent. The only kind of flesh they eat on Friday is fish, which is a symbol of Christ." -Catholic.com

    We do not fast, in the specific sense, for the whole forty days. We fast only on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (when Christ was crucified) and we abstain every Friday. Catholics may also have simpler meals during Lent, and not eat many -if any- sweets. 

    Though it is not mandatory, Catholics are strongly encouraged to do some other penance for Lent, such as giving up something that gives you pleasure, or starting a habit of something that will bring you closer to the Lord, such as giving up watching entertainment TV, or spending an hour each day in prayer. If giving something up, you need to set a goal that is in your reach. If you try something too challenging and can't do it, that is a broken promise to God. 

     There is also a feasting season before Lent, which is mostly celebrated in Louisiana. Mardi Gras (a Catholic holiday) is when you feast and celebrate before Lent. Shrove Tuesday, or Fat Tuesday, is the day before Ash Wednesday when the biggest parades are held, and we feast that day before the day of fasting.

    After Good Friday, it is Holy Saturday, then Easter Sunday, when Lent is over and we can celebrate Jesus' Resurrection.