Religious Education

THE SEASON OF LENT

Lent is a very special season in the Catholic Church. It is the forty days of preparation leading up to Easter, when we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. During Lent, we remember Jesus’ time in the desert and we prepare our own hearts through prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

The forty days of Lent remind us of many important times in the Bible when God’s people spent forty days preparing or journeying:

• Noah waited forty days while the rains fell before new life began.
• Moses spent forty days on Mount Sinai with God.
• Elijah journeyed forty days to Mount Horeb.
• Most importantly, Jesus spent forty days in the desert praying and preparing for His mission.

In the Bible, the number forty often represents a time of change, growth and new beginnings. For us, Lent is a time to grow closer to God and prepare for the joy of Easter.

The liturgical colour for Lent is purple which symbolises prayer and reflection, sorrow for sin and preparation and penance.  You will notice purple cloths in the church and the priest wearing purple vestments during this season. This colour reminds us that Lent is a quieter, more reflective time in the Church year.

As Catholics, we focus on three important practices:

• Prayer – spending time talking and listening to God.
• Fasting – going without something to remember Jesus’ sacrifice.
• Almsgiving – helping others, especially those in need.

Lent is not meant to be a sad season, but a hopeful one. It is a time to turn our hearts back to God, to grow in kindness and compassion, and to prepare to celebrate the great joy of Easter.

Kathryn Ady

Religious Education Leader