A Time for Renewing Faith, Hope and Love
What is Lent?
Lent is a yearly celebration of the Church in preparation for Easter. Lent has two major purposes: It recalls or prepares for Baptism, and emphasizes a spirit of penance. Through forty days of closer attention to God’s Word and of more fervent prayer, we are prepared to celebrate the Paschal Mystery.
During Lent, the reminder of baptism already received, as well as the theme of repentance, renew the entire community along with those being prepared to celebrate the paschal mystery, in which each of the elect will share through the sacraments of initiation. (RCIA 125, Ad gentes, 14)
For those already baptized Lent is a time of preparation to celebrate the paschal mystery through reminders of our baptism and penitential practices. (GNLYC 27)
Lent is a privileged time for prayer, fasting and almsgiving. This season provides an opportunity to renew and deepen our relationship with Jesus, and to renew the choices we make, so that we might live as he taught.
When is Lent?
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 17th, 2021, and continues until the beginning of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday evening, on April 1st, 2021. The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry.
A Time for Renewing Faith, Hope and Love
In this year’s lenten message, Pope Francis focuses on the three theological virtues, inviting the faithful to “renew our faith, draw from the living waters of hope, and receive with open hearts the love of God.”
The Holy Father explains “accepting and living the truth revealed in Christ means, first of all, opening our hearts to God’s word.” Through fasting, “experienced as a form of self-denial,” we are able “to rediscover God’s gift and recognize that, created in His image and likeness, we find our fulfillment in Him.” Fasting, too, by helping us recognize our own poverty, helps us to love both God and neighbour.
“Lent is a time for believing, for welcoming God into our lives and allowing Him to ‘make His dwelling’ in us.”
(From our Diocesan Website)