Lent begins for Christians
CHRISTIANS all over the world begin 40 days of fasting and prayer from today, Ash Wednesday, in preparation for Easter.
“Lent is a graced time and it is also a special time of prayer, penance, fasting and doing good work in preparation for the celebration of Easter,” said Father Grant Emmanuel of Our Lady of Vailankanni Catholic Church in Chatsworth.
“Prayer enables one to make space for God in their life and to enter into a deeper relationship with God. Fasting or abstinence affords us the opportunity to deny ourselves of something that we enjoy as a means of disciplining ourselves, so we are not slaves to our pleasures.
“During the Lenten season we reach out to the less fortunate by giving alms, which means sharing what we have with those who do not have. We also endeavour to deepen our friendship with God.”
Emmanuel said Lent would culminate in the Easter Triduum (three-day observance).
The Triduum begins on Holy Thursday when Christians commemorate the last supper that Christ shared with his disciples.
It continues into Good Friday, the day of the Lord’s passion, crucifixion and death and ends with the Easter vigil with the resurrection of Christ.
On Ash Wednesday, blessed ashes are marked on the forehead with the sign of a cross. This is a reminder that after one’s earthly life is over, one would rise to new life in Christ.
“The focus of Lent is to repent for our sins, to renew our faith and to prepare to celebrate joyfully the mysteries of our salvation, with a continual call to conversion and holiness through ongoing repentance,” Emmanuel said.
“An important part of the Easter vigil is the receiving of converts into the Christian faith through the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist and, as a community, we join our prayers and fasting to include those who are preparing to receive these sacraments on Holy Saturday.”