The meaning of Lent/ The word “Lent” comes from the Teutonic [German] word that means “springtime.” Christians in Upstate New York don’t really think of spring in mid February and March! However, we view Lent as a kind of spiritual spring cleaning; a time when we take inventory of our lives, including our relationship to Jesus and to one another. With God’s help, we try to clean out those things which hinder our relationship to God and neighbor. Thus it is fitting that we begin the season of Lent with the reception of ashes as a symbol of our humility before God, and our need for repentance and forgiveness. Traditionally, our Lenten disciplines include prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Our participation in these Lenten practices are supposed to help transform us, body, soul and spirit, to become more Christ-like. Lent probably originated with the pre-Easter baptismal rituals of catechumens, although the number of days set aside for fasting varied according to region. St.Irenaeus (AD 180) testifies to the variety of durations of pre-Easter fasts in the second century. Tertullian (AD 200) suggests that Catholics fasted two days prior to Easter. However, the number forty, hallowed by the fasts of Moses, Elijah, and especially Jesus, probably influenced the later fixed time of 40 days. The Canons of the Council of Nicaea (AD 325) were the first to mention 40 days of fasting. Initially the forty day Lenten fast began on a Monday, and was intended only for those who were preparing to enter the Church at Easter. Lent still begins on a Monday in many Eastern Churches. Eventually the West began Lent on Ash Wednesday, and soon the whole Church, and not just catechumens, observed the Lenten fast. The practice of placing ashes on one’s forehead came from the early church penance for forgiveness after one sinned and repented. If a Christian committed a serious sin, they would approach the bishop for forgiveness. The bishop, in the name of the Christian community would absolve the sinner after he or she completed their penance- often having to wear sackcloth and ashes all over themselves. The repentant sinner would sit at the entrance to the church or worship place and ask for forgiveness from the parishioners as they approached the church for Sunday Mass. This practice shows the “community” aspect of one’s sin. When we sin, we harm our relationship with the community and with God. The present practice of ashes on our foreheads is a vestige of this early church practice. In our Catholic Church, Lent lasts from Ash Wednesday until sundown on Holy Thursday [just before the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper]. The 40 days of Lent do not include Sundays, since every Sunday is technically a celebration of Easter. Lent is not meant to be a sad time in our church year, but a time of renewal. Through our Lenten practices, we become more Christ-like. During Lent, we take time to read the scriptures at home, in prayer. We abstain from meat on Fridays. We may pray the Stations of the Cross to remind of of the suffering that Jesus did for our salvation. We also make an extra effort to share our financial treasure with those in need. Let us walk through Lent together, as a family of faith, so that we will be filled with faith hope and love at Easter.

Happy Father's Day to all.