Meaning of Lent (what it is, concept and definition)

What is Lent:

Lent is the 40-day period that precedes the main celebration of Christianity: the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is celebrated on Easter Sunday.

The word Lent comes from the Latin quadragesĭma , which means "fortieth day", referring to the period before Easter.

The beginning of Lent is marked by Ash Wednesday and the end by the eve of Easter or Easter Sunday.

Lent is a period of spiritual preparation, purification, reflection and conversion. At this time the faithful are called to fast and penance, just as Jesus did in the desert, before his departure into public life.

The purpose of Lent is to prepare ourselves spiritually to receive God into our lives, either because we have strayed from his path, or to reflect on the sacrifices that Jesus had to make to free us from sins.

During Lent, ministers of the Catholic Church dress in purple robes to symbolize sadness, pain, penance, mourning, and sacrifice.

On the fourth Sunday the color pink is used, while on Palm Sunday, the last Sunday before the Resurrection, the color red is used, referring to the Lord's Passion.

Initially, Christians prepared the feast of Easter by keeping three days of prayer, meditation, and fasting. But around 350 AD. C., the Church increased the preparation time to forty days. Thus Lent arose.

Consider the importance of the number 40, associated with Lent, within the Judeo-Christian rites. In the Bible, the flood lasts 40 days, 40 are the years of God's people in the desert, 40 the days of Moses and Elijah on the mountain, and 40 those of Jesus in the desert, before beginning their ministry.

Lent is celebrated by all of Christendom, by Catholics, Orthodox Catholics, and some branches of Protestantism, such as Anglicans and some Evangelical churches.

On the other hand, the beginning of Lent is preceded by the Carnival celebrations.

See also:

• Easter.Carnival.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. It is a day to remember the end of mortality itself.

Ash Wednesday is characterized by the imposition of ashes on the forehead of the faithful, while the father pronounces the following words, contemplated in the book of Genesis: "Remember, man, that you are dust and dust you must become ”(3:19).

The ash cross on the forehead has a powerful symbolism, since it represents the feeling of repentance for the sins committed.

Lent of Saint Michael

Lent of San Miguel is a 40-day period that begins on August 15 and runs until September 29.

Lent of Saint Michael was created by Saint Francis of Assisi in 1224, and is a period of fasting and prayer inspired by Archangel Michael.

Saint Francis of Assisi believed that Archangel Michael had the function of saving souls at the last minute and also the ability to withdraw souls from purgatory.