"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
Lent is the solemn Christian religious observance in the liturgical year in preparation for Easter. It echoes the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert and enduring temptation by Satan, according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, before beginning his public ministry. Lent is usually observed in the Catholic, Lutheran, Moravian, Anglican, United Protestant and Orthodox Christian traditi
"Lastly, all persons were prohibited from marrying during Lent, which custom is observed to this day; The fast of the ember weeks is borrowed originally from the Jews. The season called the ember weeks consists in three days of strict fasting ..."
Lent"The Lenten Blessing — A Franciscan Benediction May God bless you with Discomfort… at easy answers, half–truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart. May God bless you with Anger… at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace. May God bless you with Tears… to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their pain into joy. And may God bless you with enough foolishness… to believe that you can make a difference in their world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done. Amen."
Lent"The season of Lent has a twofold character: primarily by recalling or preparing for Baptism and by penance, it disposes the faithful, who more diligently hear the word of God and devote themselves to prayer, to celebrate the paschal mystery. This twofold character is to be brought into greater prominence....Hence, more use is to be made of the baptismal features proper to the Lenten liturgy....The same is to apply to the penitential elements. It is important to impress on the minds of the faithful not only the social consequences of sin but also that essence of the virtue of penance which leads to the detestation of sin as an offense against God."
Lent"At Dijon, Burgundy, it is the custom on the first Sunday in Lent to make large fires in the streets whence it is called Firebrand Sunday. This practice originated in the processions formerly made on that day by the peasants with lighted torches of straw, to drive away, as they called it, the bad air from the earth."
Lent"Lent comes providentially to reawaken us, to shake us from our lethargy."
Lent"Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. And why should there be a reward from God when the reward received was attention from man? What we do when giving up anything for Lent is unto God."
Lent