"the Lenten Season" Series

THE LENTEN SEASON

“From the Early Church to Today: A Journey of Conversion”

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I. INTRODUCTION – A SACRED JOURNEY

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Every year, the Church invites us into a sacred season called Lent. But have we ever asked:

• When did Lent begin?

• Did the Apostles observe it?

• How did it become forty days?

• Why does the Church still insist on it today?

Lent is not a recent invention. It is not a medieval tradition. It is not a human idea.

Lent is an apostolic and biblical journey of preparation for Easter — rooted in Scripture, shaped by the early Church, and guided today by the living authority of the Church.

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II. BIBLICAL FOUNDATION OF LENT

The number forty in Scripture always signifies preparation and transformation:

• Moses fasted forty days on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:28)

• Elijah journeyed forty days to Horeb (1 Kings 19:8)

• Israel wandered forty years in the desert

• Most importantly:

“Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights”

— Gospel of Matthew 4:2

The Church did not invent Lent. She imitated Christ.

Lent is participation in Christ’s desert experience.

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III. HISTORICAL BEGINNING OF LENT

1. The 1st and 2nd Centuries

In the earliest centuries, Christians fasted before Easter.

By the 2nd century, Christians observed a short fast (1–2 days) before Easter.

This is mentioned by early Church historians like Irenaeus of Lyons.

The focus was:

• Preparation for Easter

• Preparation of catechumens for Baptism

• Repentance of public sinners

2. The 3rd Century – Expansion

By the 3rd century, the fast extended to a week.

3. The 4th Century – The 40 Days Established

After Christianity was legalised under Constantine (313 AD), the Church began organising liturgical life more clearly.

In 325 AD, the First Council of Nicaea refers to the “forty days” of preparation before Easter.

By this time:

• Lent lasted 40 days

• Catechumens prepared for Baptism at the Easter Vigil

• Public sinners did visible penance

• The faithful fasted strictly

St. Athanasius and other bishops wrote letters urging faithful observance.

So by the 4th century, Lent was universal in the Church.

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IV. HOW LENT WAS PRACTICED IN THE EARLY CHURCH

Early Christians practised Lent with seriousness:

1. One meal a day

2. No meat, dairy, or rich foods

3. Daily prayer gatherings

4. Public penance

5. Intensive almsgiving

Lent was not symbolic.

It was transformative.

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V. DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE CENTURIES

In the Middle Ages:

• Ash Wednesday was formally added

• The practice of receiving ashes became common

• Stations of the Cross developed

By the 20th century, discipline was moderated, but the spiritual call remained.

The Second Vatican Council renewed emphasis on:

• Interior conversion

• Scripture

• Active participation

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VI. HOW THE CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHES LENT TODAY

The Church’s official teaching is found in:

• Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 540, 1438)

• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops guidelines

• Canon Law (Canons 1249–1253)

The Three Pillars (CCC 1434)

The Church officially prescribes:

1. Prayer

2. Fasting

3. Almsgiving

Mandatory Observances (Universal Law)

• Ash Wednesday – Fast & Abstinence

• Good Friday – Fast & Abstinence

• Fridays of Lent – Abstinence from meat

Fast = One full meal, two smaller meals

Abstinence = No meat

Age requirements:

• Fasting: 18–59

• Abstinence: 14+

But the Church encourages more than the minimum law.

Lent is not about minimal compliance.

It is about maximal conversion.

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VII. WHY THE CHURCH STILL INSISTS ON LENT

The Church insists on Lent because:

1. We forget God easily.

2. We grow spiritually lazy.

3. We become attached to comfort.

4. We need discipline to grow in holiness.

The Church is a mother.

A good mother trains her children.

Lent is spiritual training.

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VIII. HOW WE SHOULD PRACTICE LENT TODAY

Here is what the Church invites today:

1. Serious Prayer

• Daily Scripture reading

• Rosary

• Eucharistic Adoration

• Frequent Mass

2. Meaningful Fasting

Not only food.

Fast from:

• Anger

• Gossip

• Social media addiction

• Harsh speech

As John Chrysostom said:

“Let the mouth fast from foul words.”

3. Concrete Almsgiving

• Help the poor

• Support parish outreach

• Visit the sick

• Forgive someone

As Mother Teresa said:

“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”

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IX. A POWERFUL REMINDER

Lent is not about giving up chocolate.

It is about giving up sin.

It is not about dieting.

It is about dying to self.

It is not about sadness.

It is about preparation for the Resurrection.

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X. CONCLUSION – A PERSONAL CHALLENGE

Ask yourself:

• What habit must die in me?

• What virtue must grow in me?