It tarts on a wednesday each year, people going with subber reflection deep in their mind. Dust you are; dust you shall return to. Ashes on the faces as they mark the begining of a season of great spiritual benefits. A 40day journy in the road of penitence The season of LENT.
The lent is the christian period of fasting, prayer and alms giving. It is a forty-day season starting with the ash wednesday to holy saturday (sundays are however excluded because sunday forbids fasting. It marks the 40 days that JESUS fasted in the wilderness. Lent is a season which exposes christians to deep meditations. People are obliged to take the responsibillity of taking care of the poor and the helpless; time to repent and fill contrite for sins. Fasting and abstinence helps to overcome excess ungodly pleasures and resolve to leave them.
The lenten observances have existed since the fourth century. It have become a christian practice since 4th century(the council of Nicaea in 325 AD first mentioned lent in the 5th canon of the council.)
Lent begins with the ash wednesday and lasts forty days through the weeks till holy sartuday. (Sundays are excluded because being the the of the lord's feast, it is improper to fast on sundays.) The ashes from palms blessed the previous year's palm suday is crossed on the faces signifying their humility and nothingness.
A special period comes in the last week of lent; the holy week. From the palm sunday, which is marks the triumphant entry of our Lord Jesus Christ into jerusalem, to the holy saturday. These days are filled with spiritual exercises. Especially the last three days called the EASTER TRIDUM: holy thursday, good friday and holy saturday. This marks the end of lent as we begin the celebration of Easter.
The holy thursday marks two biblical events. The first being the institution of priesthood. The authority to share not only in the priesthood of Christ but also in his kingship, prophetic power. "He qualifies those he calls". The second celebration is the institution of holy eucharist showing the sacrificial love of christ. He calls us to lay down our lives for others which is true love.
The good friday christians all over the world mark death of Jesus on the cross.
What lent calls us to do
Everyone should feel deep sorrow for sin and make resolution to repent. Humility which is the greatest of all virtues is so much necessary. Self denial and mortification is required to draw us closer to God and away from worldly things. Constant prayer and reading of holy books which makes faith to grow.
Faith is like a planted tree which must be watered and manured to ensure life and growth. The activities of this lent are necessary ways of doing so.
Thanks for the patience in reading. Expect improvement in subsequent posts.