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Marie5890
Guest
AH!I don’t even know what to do. My first Lent and no one has given us any instruction on what to do or how to plan. Would you enlighten me a little?
First of all do you understand what Lent is?
I will run down some of the basics since I dont know what you may or may not know.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. It’s a season of penance (repentance) and comes from Our Lord going into the desert and fasting for 40 days prior to His choosing the 12 apostles.
Technically it goes from Ash Weds to Holy Thrus (the Thrus right before Good Friday, the day that Our Lord instituted the Eucharist at the Passover)
Holy Thrus, Good Friday, Holy Sat is known as the Triduum.
(If you would count the days from Ash Wed-Holy Thrus you would find 46 days to be exact, but that is because Sundays are not included in the 40 days. All Sunday’s are seen as mini-Easter through out the year)
The idea of Lent is a time of reflection, a time of penance, and time of alms giving, a time of prayer. The liturgical colors you will see are purple. (like you did in Advent)
Many think of something to “give up” in Lent for the 40 days. Or “fast from”. Some do things like giving up chocolate, or booze, or sweets. Some will give up some activity (for me I wont be on my computer in forums like this). Some will give up say TV.
Find something that would be something of a “fast” for you to give up to help remind you to stay focused on the Lord.
Also some people try not only to “give up” something, but to add something. Some try to make daily Mass. Others try to read the scriptures for about 10 minuets a day or say the rosary.
During Lent, both Ash Weds and Good Fridays are BOTH days of abstinance (no meat) and fasting (only one meal a day, as long as you dont have any medical conditions that would other wise prohibit you)
And EVERY Friday during Lent is a day of abstinence (no meat).
The whole idea is to prepare ourselves by repenting, by trying more earnestly to drawing closer to the Lord and purifying our souls.
Its a time to reflect before we celebrate the joy of Easter!!
Does that help?