Lent

Time flies on the liturgical calendar. Christmas lasted for 12 days, then came epiphany. But now we are ready for the new season. With the preaching about the Transfiguration the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, we are ready to move into the season of Lent.

Lent is a solemn religious observance in the liturgical calendar of many Christian denominations that begins on Ash Wednesday and covers a period of approximately six weeks (40 days) before Easter Sunday. (Note: if you are counting out the days yourself, then you do not count the Sundays.)

The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer through prayer, penance, repentance of sins, almsgiving, atonement, and self-denial. The Lenten season culminates in Holy Week as we remember the sacrifice of Jesus in his death and burial. Many people observing Lent decide to abstain from a certain food or vice, pray more often, read Lenten devotionals, or choose to add something like charitable works during Lent.