Luis S R Vas for Daily News & Analysis
Reflexions
March 6: For all Christians, Lent is the 40-day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. This year Lent began on March 1 and will end on April 15. Easter celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, while Lent is a time of preparation for Holy Week (or the Passion Week for Catholics worshipping in the new rite of the Mass). Holy Week recalls the events preceding and during the crucifixion, which occurred in Jerusalem in the Roman province Judea, AD 29. In most churches, the decorations during Lent are purple or blue, royal colours to prepare for the risen Christ.
Lent is a season for soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. Lent originated in the earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism.
By observing Lent, a Christian imitates Jesus' withdrawal into the wilderness for 40 days. All churches that have a continuous history extending before AD 1500 observe Lent. The ancient church that wrote, collected, canonised, and propagated the New Testament also observed Lent, believing it to be a commandment from the apostles.
In many countries, the day just before Lent (called Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, Carnival, or Fasching) has become a last fling before the solemnity of Lent. For centuries, it was customary to fast by abstaining from meat which is why some people call the pre-Lent festival Carnival, which is Latin for farewell to meat.
Formerly Lent was referred to by the Latin term quadragesima, or the 'fortieth day' before Easter. This nomenclature is preserved in Romance and Celtic languages (for example, Spanish cuaresma, Irish Carghas, and Welsh C(a)rawys). The name comes from the Germanic root for spring. Initially the word simply meant spring, but later became associated with the fast. The name change occurred in the late Middle Ages as Catholic sermons were delivered in local languages instead of Latin.