Dear Parish Family,. What gives? Well, in the colorful history of this penitential season, there are three points that help us resolve the question: 1 The season of Lent used to begin on the First Sunday of Lent. Multiply 7 days times 6 weeks, you get 42 days until Easter Sunday.
So that meant only 34 actual days of fasting. This meant finding six more days. Bits of food can be taken at other traditional meal times though their combined total should not equal a full meal. Penitential practices, like fasting and abstinence, are intended to refocus our thoughts and intentions toward God. Sundays are optional but encouraged. For health reasons, the infirm, ill, and pregnant or nursing mothers are exempt.
Three other Lenten disciplines are prayer daily conversation with the Lord , fasting from behaviors which detract from our relationship with God , and almsgiving sharing our resources, ensuring the basic needs of human dignity.
Colors powerfully convey unspoken messages and evoke emotions. Scriptural accounts share Jesus was robed in purple to mock his implied royalty as king of the Jews. The pain of his passion and crucifixion became associated with this color. Purple reminds us Lenten days are times of repentance and atonement, of acknowledging how our selfish desires continue to suppress and crucify the goodness of God today.
The Alleluia is another exclamation of praise. While we literally know Jesus has risen and set us free, during Lent, we focus expectant anticipation of these events to come. Refraining from joyous hymns of exultation maintains. The Church builds in a break from our deep reflection and self-denial on the 4th Sunday, Laetare meaning Rejoice Sunday. This day is a gift to take a short break and breath in so we can courageously resume our walk to Calvary.
The Scrutinies, celebrated on the third, fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent, are special rites for the Elect those preparing for baptism at Easter Vigil to deliver them from the power of sin, protect them against temptation, and strengthen them in Christ. These rites begin with the entire Eucharistic assembly silently praying for these intentions.
The particular readings correlate with the intended conversion experience of each scrutiny. Most Christians go to a special Ash Wednesday church service where the minister or priest marks the sign of the cross on their forehead with ashes.
The ashes are made from the palms used in the Palm Sunday service. In earlier days, people were very strict about fasting during Lent and would clean out all the temptations from their kitchens. They would make a big feast the day before Lent with meats, breads, sweets and any other food and drink they thought would distract them. Most people choose to give up food or activities during Lent, but there are many special traditions around the world.
One tradition is to have costumed children try to break a wooden barrel with an image of a cat on it that is filled with candy and oranges. The two children who knock down the barrel are crowned kattedronning Queen of Cats and kattekonge King of Cats. In Greece, the Monday before Ash Wednesday is a holiday. Called Kathari Theftera , or Clean Monday, most families spend the day outdoors with their family and flying kites.
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