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Lent

This article is about the general Christian pre-Easter period. For Lent in Eastern Christianity, see Great Lent. For other uses, see Lent (disambiguation).

  • Lent
  • Quadragesima
High altar, barren, with few adornments, as is custom during Lent
TypeChristian
Celebrations
Observances
Begins
Ends
DateVariable (follows the paschal computus, and depends on denomination)
2023 date
  • 22 February – 6 April or 8 April (Western)
  • 27 February – 7 April (Eastern)
2024 date
  • 14 February – 28 March or 30 March (Western)
  • 18 March – 26 April (Eastern)
2025 date
  • 5 March – 17 April or 19 April (Western)
  • 3 March – 11 April (Eastern)
2026 date
  • 18 February – 2 April or 4 April (Western)
  • 23 February – 3 April (Eastern)
FrequencyAnnual (lunar calendar)
Related toExodus, Temptation of Christ
Liturgical seasons

Lent (Latin: Quadragesima,[1] 'Fortieth') is the solemn Christian religious observance in the liturgical year commemorating the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert and enduring temptation by Satan, according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, before beginning his public ministry.[2][3] Lent is usually observed in the Catholic, Lutheran, Moravian, Anglican, United Protestant and Orthodox Christian traditions, among others.[4][5][6][7] Some Anabaptist, Baptist, Methodist, Reformed (including certain Continental Reformed, Presbyterian and Congregationalist churches), and nondenominational Christian churches also observe Lent, although many churches in these traditions do not.[8][9][10][11][12][13]

Which days are enumerated as being part of Lent differs between denominations (see below), although in all of them Lent is described as lasting for a total duration of 40 days, the number of days Jesus, as well as Moses and Elijah, went without food in their respective fasts.[14][15][16] In Lent-observing Western Christian denominations, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends approximately six weeks later; depending on the Christian denomination and local custom, Lent concludes either on the evening of Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday),[17] or at sundown on Holy Saturday, when the Easter Vigil is celebrated,[18] though in either case, Lenten fasting observances are maintained until the evening of Holy Saturday.[19] Sundays may or may not be excluded, depending on the denomination.[20] In Eastern Christianity – including Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Catholics, Eastern Lutherans, and Oriental Orthodox – Great Lent is observed continuously without interruption for 40 days starting on Clean Monday and ending on Lazarus Saturday before Holy Week.[21][6]

Lent is a period of grief that necessarily ends with a great celebration of Easter. Thus, it is known in Eastern Orthodox circles as the season of "bright sadness" (Greek: χαρμολύπη, romanized: charmolypê).[22] The purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer for Easter through prayer, mortifying the flesh, repentance of sins, almsgiving, simple living, and self-denial.[23] In Lent, many Christians commit to fasting, as well as giving up certain luxuries in imitation of Christ's sacrifice during his journey into the desert for 40 days;[24][25][26] this is known as one's Lenten sacrifice.[27] Prior to the 6th century, Lent was normatively observed through the practice of the Black Fast, which enjoins fasting from food and liquids, with the allowance of one vegetarian meal after sunset.[28][29][30] This form of fasting continues in certain denominations, such as the Coptic Orthodox Church.[31]

Many Lent-observing Christians also add a Lenten spiritual discipline, such as reading a daily devotional or praying through a Lenten calendar, to draw themselves near to God.[32][33] Often observed are the Stations of the Cross, a devotional commemoration of Christ's carrying the Cross and crucifixion. Many churches remove flowers from their altars and veil crucifixes, religious statues that show the triumphant Christ, and other elaborate religious symbols in violet fabrics in solemn observance of the event. The custom of veiling is typically practiced the last two weeks, beginning on the fifth Sunday of Lent (known as Judica Sunday or Passion Sunday) until Good Friday, when the cross is unveiled solemnly in the liturgy.

In most Lent-observing denominations, the last week of Lent coincides with Holy Week, starting with Palm Sunday. Following the New Testament narrative, Jesus' crucifixion is commemorated on Good Friday, and at the beginning of the next week the joyful celebration of Easter, the start of the Easter season, which recalls the Resurrection of Jesus. In some Christian denominations, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday form the Easter Triduum.[34]

  1. ^ "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Lent". New Advent. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  2. ^ "What is Lent and why does it last forty days?". The United Methodist Church. Retrieved 24 August 2007.
  3. ^ "The Liturgical Year". The Anglican Catholic Church. Archived from the original on 24 August 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2007.
  4. ^ "Bringing Together Worship Resources for Lent and Easter". Moravian Church. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  5. ^ Comparative Religion For Dummies. For Dummies. 2011. ISBN 978-1118052273. Retrieved 8 March 2011. This is the day Lent begins. Christians go to church to pray and have a cross drawn in yellow in ashes on their foreheads. The ashes drawn on ancient tradition represent repentance before God. The holiday is part of Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, and Episcopalian [Anglican] liturgies, among others.
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference EWTN was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Thomas, Benny (14 February 2024). "Letter". Church of South India (United Protestant). Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  8. ^ "The Significance of Lent". Methodist Church in Singapore. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2024. Over the last 25 years, more and more Methodist local conferences have been observing Lent, the 46 days before Easter.
  9. ^ Mennonite Stew – A Glossary: Lent. Third Way Café. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2012. Traditionally, Lent was not observed by the Mennonite church, and only recently have more modern Mennonite churches started to focus on the six-week season preceding Easter.
  10. ^ Brumley, Jeff. "Lent not just for Catholics, but also for many denominations, Baptists and other evangelicals". The Florida Times Union. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  11. ^ Benedict, Philip (2014). Christ's Churches Purely Reformed: A Social History of Calvinism. Yale University Press. p. 506. ISBN 978-0300105070.
  12. ^ "Question & Answer: Should we Observe Lent?". Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Retrieved 10 April 2022. Those inheriting a Reformed theology (which would include the OPC) have adopted the stance that the church is only to practice in worship what the Bible actually establishes, often called the 'regulative principle of worship.' Many in the Reformed tradition would exclude the practice of Lent on this basis—it lacks scriptural warrant.
  13. ^ Moore, Scott (2008). "The Predicament and the Promise for Young Baptist Scholars". In Ward, Roger; Gushee, David (eds.). The Scholarly Vocation and the Baptist Academy: Essays on the Future of Baptist Higher Education. Mercer University Press, Inc. p. 143. In most Baptist churches, Lent is non-existent, and Advent is merely the 'pre-Christmas' wind-up.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hynes1993 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference Johnson2017 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ George Leo Haydock (2015). The New Testament. Aeterna Press. To fast 40 days without being hungry, was certainly far above the strength of man, but to be hungry at any time is inconsistent with God; for which reason our blessed Saviour, that he might not manifestly declare his divinity, was afterwards hungry. S. Hil. -- On this example, as well as that of Moses and Elias, who also fasted 40 days, the fast of Lent was instituted by the apostles, and is of necessity to be observed according to the general consent of the ancient Fathers. S. Jerom (ep. liv. ad Marcel.) says, we fast 40 days, or make one Lent in a year, according to the tradition of the apostles.
  17. ^ "When does Lent really end?". www.catholic.com. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference Langford 96 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ Akin, Jimmy (1996). "All About Lent". EWTN. Archived from the original on 21 October 2004. Lent is the forty day period before Easter, excluding Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday (the day before Easter Sunday). [This traditional ennumeration does not precisely coincide with the calendar according to the liturgical reform. In order to give special prominence to the Sacred Triduum (Mass of the Lord's Supper, Good Friday, Easter Vigil) the current calendar counts Lent as only from Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday, up to the Mass of the Lord's Supper. Even so, Lenten practices are properly maintained up to the Easter Vigil, excluding Sundays, as before.]
  20. ^ Cite error: The named reference WJW was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  21. ^ Bohmat, Pavlo (2001). "Проповіді" (in Ukrainian). Ukrainian Lutheran Church. Retrieved 19 September 2018. Як відомо, німецьке лютеранство згідно з церковною традицією залишило у вжитку чимало католицьких елементів, особливо в літургії. "Створена Лютером форма богослужіння, власне кажучи, є німецьким перекладом латинської меси" (Ф. Гейгер). В усьому світі лютерани, як і німці в Україні, відтворюють західний обряд. Натомість українці-лютерани від самого початку звернулись до православного обряду та юліанського календаря. Чому? Перше, що спадає на думку, -греко-католицьке походження засновників церкви. І це справді є однією з причин, що зумовила її оригінальне обличчя.
  22. ^ Breck, Fr John (May 2005). "Bright Sadness". www.oca.org.
  23. ^ Jumper, Dana (31 January 2020). "Lent: A call to simplicity". Pontiac Daily Leader. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  24. ^ Burnett, Margaret (5 March 2017). "Students observe Lent on campus – The Brown and White". The Brown and White. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  25. ^ Cite error: The named reference EB1911 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  26. ^ Cite error: The named reference GassmannOldenburg2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  27. ^ Hines-Brigger, Susan. "Lent: More Than Just Giving Up Something". Franciscan Media. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  28. ^ Butler, Alban (1839). The Moveable Feasts, Fasts, and Other Annual Observances of the Catholic Church. Dublin: James Duffy. p. 144-146. The primitive Christians in Lent broke their fast only after sunset, and then usually only with herbs, roots, and bread. At least all were obliged to abstain not only from flesh meat, but also from fish, and whatever had life; also whatever is derived from flesh, as eggs, milk, cheese, butter, according to the ancient canon. Likewise from wine, which in the primitive ages was no less forbidden on all fasting days than the use of flesh meat itself ... Some mitigations were introduced in part of abstinence in the sixth century ... Fish was in the same age allowed, but not of the dearer and more dainty kinds.
  29. ^ Butler, Alban (1774). The Moveable Feasts, Fasts, and Other Annual Observances of the Catholic Church. C. Kiernan. p. 257. It is undoubted, that anciently to drink on fasting days was no less forbid than to eat, only in the refection after sunset.
  30. ^ Cite error: The named reference Cléir2017 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  31. ^ Samaan, Moses (9 April 2009). "The Meaning of the Great Lent". Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California, and Hawaii. Retrieved 10 March 2024. The Church teaches us to fast until sunset. Fish is not allowed during this period. Also married couples should refrain from physical relations to give themselves time for fasting and prayer (1 Cor. 7: 5). We would like to emphasize the importance of the period of strict abstention during fasting. It is refraining from eating and drinking for a period of time, followed by eating vegetarian food.
  32. ^ Cite error: The named reference Crumm was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  33. ^ Ambrose, Gill; Craig-Wild, Peter; Craven, Diane; Moger, Peter (2007). Together for a Season. Church House Publishing. p. 34. ISBN 978-0715140635.
  34. ^ "General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, 19". Catholicliturgy.com. Archived from the original on 11 April 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2010.

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