Lent is observed by many Christian denominations, including Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran communities, all of whom honor Jesus’ resurrection and reflect on His time in the desert, as described in the Gospel of Matthew.
Before Easter arrives, Christians observe the season of Lent—a time for reflection, fasting, and prayer in remembrance of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Lent is all about spiritual preparation, self-examination, and growth.
Lent lasts 40 days, from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday, and is a time to reflect, repent for sins, purify oneself, and renew one’s Christian life. It’s a season that calls for spiritual discipline and commitment. During these 40 days, believers often fast by avoiding red meat and giving up some of life’s comforts. Liturgically, Lent is a period of prayer, fasting, and acts of charity.
Lenten traditions include:
• Praying by reading sacred scriptures.
• Fasting every Friday. Christians also abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent and Holy Week as an act of penance.
• Giving to charity, whether through money, services, or talents.
• Renewing one’s baptismal commitment.
• Historically, Lent was celebrated in different lengths. Initially, it lasted six weeks, but only 36 days of fasting, excluding Sundays. In the 7th century, four days were added before the first Sunday of Lent to make a full 40 days, the same number of days Jesus fasted in the desert.
The start and end dates of Lent vary each year, depending on when Easter falls, as the date of Easter is not fixed. Lent begins 46 days before Easter Sunday.
Lent’s start is determined by the date of Easter, which is celebrated on the first Sunday following the full moon after the spring equinox (March 21). The date of Holy Week varies each year, ranging from March to April. Easter Sunday cannot fall before March 22 or after April 25. Holy Week is a celebration that commemorates the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For example, In 2025, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 5, and lasts until Holy Week, which begins on Palm Sunday, April 13. During Holy Week, Christians commemorate the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday), the Last Supper (Holy Thursday) April 17, and His crucifixion (Good Friday) April 18. Lent concludes with the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday, April 20.
The Origins of Ash Wednesday dates back to the 11th century. While it isn’t mentioned directly in the Bible, it draws on references like the Book of Daniel, where fasting and ashes are associated with repentance. In ancient Rome, the tradition of ashes was linked to sinners beginning their penance on the first day of Lent by covering themselves in ashes.
Ash Wednesday is observed with the faithful receiving ashes, which are typically made by burning the previous year’s Palm Sunday branches. The ashes are placed in the shape of a cross on the foreheads of the congregation while they hear the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust, you shall return,” or “Repent and believe in the Gospel.”
What to Do on Ash Wednesday? On Ash Wednesday, it’s customary to fast and abstain from red meat as a way of sacrificing in honor of Jesus’ crucifixion. Many people replace heavy meals with lighter foods like fish. The Vatican also allows penitence and acts of charity to take the place of fasting and abstinence.
What Not to Do on Ash Wednesday? On this day, it’s important to refrain from eating red meat and to fast in a way that reflects the sacrifice Jesus made. The Vatican also encourages substituting food-based sacrifices with charitable acts.
Lent and Holy Week: A Time for Reflection Holy Week is an invitation to reflect and renew one’s faith and hope. It’s a time to meditate on the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But it’s also an opportunity to deepen our connection to one another and embrace values like solidarity, empathy, love, and charity.
Also for people who like technology there is the Hallow app is a free app that offers Christian prayer, meditation, and other resources. It’s available for download on Apple and Android devices.
Hallow’s Lent Pray40 2025 Lent: The Way. The voices that will guide us in this Lent will be deep voices that will lead us to meditate on the lives of those who follow Christ.
The application also includes:
• Daily prayers: Includes Lectio Divina, the Holy Rosary, and Daily Mass Readings and Reflections
• Sleep: Includes a nightly Examen to close your day with Christ
• Music: Includes curated music
• Community challenges: Join thousands of Christians in prayer challenges like Easter Prayers or the 54-Day Rosary Novena
• The app is available in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Portuguese, Tagalog, and Polish.
Are you ready to begin this Lenten journey? Have you already helped in your church? This season is about more than just sacrifice—it’s an invitation to grow spiritually, to give back, and to make meaningful changes in our lives. Let this Lent be a time of transformation, starting with ourselves, with our family, with our children, always with God’s blessing. 🌿
