![]() Final day of Lenten fasting (no daily Mass, Easter Vigil begins at sundown). Holy Saturday: Christ is in the grave conquering death and freeing the captives. Obligatory day of fasting (ages 18 to 59) and abstinence (ages 14 & over). Good Friday: The anniversary of the Crucifixion of Christ (no Mass). Holy Thursday: Lent ends and the Holy Triduum begins in the evening with the commemoration of the Institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. All Fridays (even outside of Lent) are days of penance. Obligatory day of fasting (ages 18 to 59) and abstinence (ages 14 & over).įridays of Lent: Obligatory abstinence (ages 14 & over). Almsgiving helps us to overcome this constant temptation, teaching us to respond to our neighbor’s needs and to share with others whatever we possess through divine goodness." -Pope Benedict XVIĪsh Wednesday: Marks the start of Lent and the time for penance. Why: Almsgiving "represents a specific way to assist those in need and, at the same time, an exercise in self-denial to free us from attachment to worldly goods.What you can give: money, goods, acts of charity.This is the heart of the tradition of abstinence from meat on Friday where that tradition has been observed in the holy Catholic Church." -USCCBĪLMSGIVING: Material generosity to the less fortunate. Why: "Catholic peoples from time immemorial have set apart Friday for special penitential observance by which they gladly suffer with Christ that they may one day be glorified with Him.Through fasting and praying, we allow Him to come and satisfy the deepest hunger that we experience in the depths of our being: the hunger and thirst for God." -Pope Benedict XVI Why: "Denying material food, which nourishes our body, nurtures an interior disposition to listen to Christ and be fed by His saving word.What you can eat: One normal, full-sized meal, and two smaller meals which if combined would not exceed one full meal.Continue reading Pope Francis' Lenten theme for 2017.įAST: Eating less food than normal (does not necessarily mean no food). Let us find inspiration in this meaningful story, for it provides a key to understanding what we need to do in order to attain true happiness and eternal life. I would now like to consider the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (cf. At the basis of everything is the word of God, which during this season we are invited to hear and ponder more deeply. Lent is a favourable season for deepening our spiritual life through the means of sanctification offered us by the Church: fasting, prayer and almsgiving. Even when we sin, he patiently awaits our return by that patient expectation, he shows us his readiness to forgive (cf. Jesus is the faithful friend who never abandons us. Christians are asked to return to God “with all their hearts” (Joel 2:12), to refuse to settle for mediocrity and to grow in friendship with the Lord. This season urgently calls us to conversion. Lent is a new beginning, a path leading to the certain goal of Easter, Christ’s victory over death. In the Lenten period, the Church makes it her duty to propose some specific tasks that accompany the faithful concretely in this process of interior renewal: these are prayer, fasting and almsgiving." -Pope Benedict XVI LENTEN MESSAGE FROM THE HOLY FATHERĮach year the Holy Father offers a new Lenten theme, his exhortation to the faithful as they enter the liturgical season in mind and heart. You can read Pope Francis' message for 2017 in its entirety at the link below. "Each year, Lent offers us a providential opportunity to deepen the meaning and value of our Christian lives, and it stimulates us to rediscover the mercy of God so that we, in turn, become more merciful toward our brothers and sisters. Read next: Understanding the Sacred Triduum: What is it? The 40 days of Lent correspond to the 40 days that Jesus spent in the wilderness to fast, pray, and endure the temptations of the devil, all in preparation for his public ministry which would culminate in his death on the cross. On the evening of Holy Thursday the Sacred Triduum beings. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday (this year March 1, 2017) and ends on Holy Thursday (this year April 13, 2017). Here's a rundown of everything major you need to know about the Lenten season, the 40+ days of penance to prepare our hearts Easter, the greatest of all Christian feasts. Jesus taught us clearly that there is no resurrection without the Cross, and Lent is the Church's great spiritual journey as she, the Bride of Christ, joins her Divine spouse in His great suffering on our behalf.īasically, you don't get the joy of Easter without the self-sacrifice of Lent the disciples of Jesus follow in his footsteps. Lent is the time of spiritual preparation prior to the Easter season, just as Advent is for Christmas.
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