what is origin of lent

Where did the word Lent come from?

The word “Lent” has Germanic roots referring to the “lengthening” of days, or springtime. But facts about the early origin of the religious observance are not as well known. As a scholar who studies Christian liturgy, I know that by the fourth century, a regular practice of 40-day fasting became common in Christian churches.

Why is lent so important to Christians?

Why is Lent so important? As an important religious observance in the Christian world, Lent is the season to observe and commemorate the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the son of God, our Savior and Redeemer. As sinners, we have the ability and capability to be holy only if we allow Christ into our lives.

When does lent start and what is it?

Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent comes from the Anglo Saxon word lencten, meaning “lengthen” and refers to the lengthening days of spring. The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry.

Why did lent start?

The practice of fasting and abstaining from certain foods is an ancient one that has been practiced by many religions. In the early years of Christianity in Europe, the Church instituted the practice of requiring the faithful to abstain from eating meat on Fridays in memory of Christ’s death. During the season of Lent, the Church also called for abstaining from eating meat on Wednesdays as well as on Fridays.

What is the true origin of Lent?

Early Christianity In the Gospels, Jesus spends 40 days in the wilderness to fast and pray. This event was one of the factors that inspired the final length of Lent. Early Christian practices in the Roman Empire varied from area to area. A common practice was weekly fasting on Wednesday and Friday until mid-afternoon.

What is the biblical origin of Lent?

Today, Lent is connected with the 40-day fast that Jesus undergoes (Mark 1:13; Matthew 4:1–11; Luke 4:1–13). Mark tells us that Jesus was tempted by Satan, but it is in Matthew and Luke that the details of the temptation are fleshed out. All three accounts say that Jesus went without food for the 40 days.

When was Lent first started?

325 ceA period of preparation and fasting likely has been observed before the Easter festival since apostolic times, though the practice was not formalized until the First Council of Nicaea in 325 ce.

Is Lent a pagan tradition?

As with many Christian rituals, Lent, a 40-day period of prayer, penance and abstinence, grew out of earlier pagan practices. The very name, Lent, is an Anglo-Saxon term that refers to the lengthening of the day as spring approaches. For Christians, it has always been viewed as a preparation for Easter.

Is Lent for God or Jesus?

Lent is a period of 40 days during which Christians remember the events leading up to and including the death of Jesus Christ, whose life and teachings are the foundation of Christianity.

Is Lent made up by the Catholic Church?

Lent is one of the five seasons of the Catholic liturgical calendar, along with Advent, Christmas, Easter, and Ordinary Time. It precedes Easter and is a solemn period centered on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Where did 40 days of Lent come from?

40 days are observed to represent the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert where he fasted and was tempted by the devil. At the end of Jesus' 40 days, this was when he started his public ministry." "Lent is our time to reconnect. To grow closer to the Lord.

When did the Catholic Church start no meat on Fridays?

Up until 1966 Church law prohibited meat on all Fridays throughout the entire year. The new law was promulgated in 1983 in the revised Code of Canon Law which states, “Abstinence [is] to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on the Friday of the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Canon 1251).

What is Lent for Chistians?

Lent is a period of fasting and reflection for many Chistians. Pascal Deloche/Godong/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Why was marriage forbidden during Lenten?

The idea was to avoid self-indulgence at this time of repentance for one’s sins. Marriage, a joyous ritual, was also prohibited during the Lenten season.

What is the 40 day fasting period called?

In late winter, many Christian denominations observe a 40-day period of fasting and prayer called Lent. This is in preparation for the spring celebration of Easter, a religious holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

What are some activities that can be done during Lent?

These include making amends with estranged family and friends, reading of the Bible or other spiritual writers, and community service.

Which religions fast from food?

The practice of fasting from food for spiritual reasons is found in the three largest Abrahamic faiths: Judaism , Christianity and Islam. In all three, refraining from eating is intimately connected with an additional focus on prayer, and the practice of assisting the poor by giving alms or donating food.

Can you eat meat during Lent?

Also, bishops and theologians specializing in church law specified restrictions on the kinds of acceptable food: no meat or meat products, dairy or eggs could be consumed at all during Lent, even on Sundays.

Did Christianity spread during Lent?

As Christianity spread through Western Europe from the fifth through 12th centuries, the observance of Lent did as well. A few Lenten days were “black,” or total, fast days. But daily fasting came gradually to be moderated during most of Lent. By the end of the Middle Ages a meal was often permitted at noon.

What does "lent" mean in English?

The English word Lent is a shortened form of the Old English word lencten, meaning " spring season ", as its Dutch language cognate lente ( Old Dutch lentin) still does today. A dated term in German, Lenz ( Old High German lenzo ), is also related. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, 'the shorter form (? Old Germanic type * laŋgito - , * laŋgiton -) seems to be a derivative of * laŋgo - long ] and may possibly have reference to the lengthening of the days as characterizing the season of spring'. The origin of the - en element is less clear: it may simply be a suffix, or lencten may originally have been a compound of * laŋgo - 'long' and an otherwise little-attested word *- tino, meaning 'day'.

How long is Lent?

Lent is traditionally described as lasting for 40 days, in commemoration of the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert, according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, before beginning his public ministry, during which he endured temptation by Satan. The last week of Lent is Holy Week, starting with Palm Sunday.

How long is Lent in the Roman Rite?

In the Roman Rite since 1970, Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Maundy Thursday evening (before the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper). This comprises a period of 44 days. The Lenten fast excludes Sundays and continues through Good Friday and Holy Saturday, totalling 40 days (though the Eucharistic Fast still applies).

How many days does Lent last?

In the Ambrosian Rite, Lent begins on the Sunday that follows what is celebrated as Ash Wednesday in the rest of the Latin Catholic Church, and ends as in the Roman Rite, thus being of 40 days, counting the Sundays but not Maundy Thursday. The day for beginning the Lenten fast is the following Monday, the first weekday in Lent. The special Ash Wednesday fast is transferred to the first Friday of the Ambrosian Lent. Until this rite was revised by Saint Charles Borromeo the liturgy of the First Sunday of Lent was festive, celebrated in white vestments with chanting of the Gloria in Excelsis and Alleluia, in line with the recommendation in Matthew 6:16, "When you fast, do not look gloomy".

Why do Christians end Lent on the Paschal Full Moon?

Quartodeciman Christians end the fast of Lent on the Paschal full moon of the Hebrew calendar, in order to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread beginning on the 14th of Nisan, whence the name derives . For this practice, they were excommunicated in the Easter controversy of the 2nd century A.D.

When do Christians break their Lenten fast?

Historically, using the early Christian form known as the Black Fast, the observant does not consume food for a whole day until the evening, and at sunset, Christians traditionally break the Lenten fast of that day with supper (no food is consumed in a day apart from the Lenten supper). In India and Pakistan, many Christians continue this practice of fasting until sunset on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, with many fasting in this manner throughout the whole season of Lent.

Where is the Lenten supper held?

After attending a worship service (often on Wednesday and Friday evenings), it is common for Christians of various denominations to conclude that day's Lenten fast together through a communal Lenten supper, which is held in the church's parish hall; Lenten suppers ordinarily take place in the home setting during the forty days of Lent during which a family (or individual) concludes that day's fast after a mealtime prayer.

What is the meaning of Lenten?

The Lenten (from Middle English lenten, “spring ”) season is rooted in the preparation of candidates for baptism at the Paschal vigil. For several weeks they received intensive instruction, each session followed by prayer and exorcism. The earliest detailed account of these ceremonies is in…

How many days before Easter is Lent?

Lent, in the Christian church, a period of penitential preparation for Easter. In Western churches it begins on Ash Wednesday, six and a half weeks before Easter, and provides for a 40-day fast(Sundays are excluded), in imitation of Jesus Christ’s fastingin the wilderness before he began his public ministry. In Eastern churches Lent begins on the Monday of the seventh week before Easter and ends on the Friday that is nine days before Easter. This 40-day “Great Lent” includes Saturdays and Sundays as relaxed fast days.

What is the practice of fasting before Easter?

A period of preparation and fasting likely has been observed before the Easter festivalsince apostolic times, though the practice was not formalized until the First Council of Nicaeain 325 ce. It was a time of preparation of candidates for baptismand a time of penancefor grievous sinners who were excluded from Communion and were preparing for their restoration. As a sign of their penitence, they wore sackcloth and were sprinkled with ashes. This form of public penance began to die out in the 9th century, and it became customary for all the faithful to be reminded of the need for penitence by receiving an imposition of ashes on their foreheads on the first day of Lent—hence the name Ash Wednesday.

What is the church year?

church year: Lent. The Lenten (from Middle English lenten, “spring”) season is rooted in the preparation of candidates for baptism... In the early centuries, fasting rules were strict, as they still are in Eastern churches. One meal a day was allowed in the evening, and meat, fish, eggs, and butter were forbidden.

Why do Catholics give up alcohol during Lent?

In addition, Catholics and other Christians often choose to give up specific pleasures, such as sweets, alcohol, or social media, during Lent as a way to foster simplicity and self-control; many use their cravings or desires for these items as a reminder to pray and to refocus on spiritual matters.

Is Lent a fasting or a fasting?

In the Anglicanchurches The Book of Common Prayerprescribes that Lent be observed with fasting. In Lutheranand many other Protestant churches, Lent is observed with various services and practices, though Lent is not formally observed in many Evangelicalor nondenominational churches.

Is Ash Wednesday a fasting day?

The strict law of fasting among Roman Catholicswas dispensed with during World War II, and only Ash Wednesday and Good Fridayare now kept as Lenten fast days. However, the emphasis on penitential practice and almsgivingremains, and many Catholics also observe a meatless fast on Fridays during Lent.

What is the purpose of Lent?

In Lent, the baptized are called to renew their baptismal commitment as others prepare to be baptized through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, a period of learning and discernment for individuals who have declared their desire to become Catholics.

How many days does Lent last?

It might be more accurate to say that there is the "forty day fast within Lent." Historically, Lent has varied from a week to three weeks to the present configuration of 46 days. The forty day fast, however, has been more stable. The Sundays of Lent are certainly part of the Time of Lent, but they are not prescribed days of fast and abstinence.

What are the days of fasting for Catholics?

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence. For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, ...

How do we pray during Lent?

During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; we serve by giving alms; and we practice self-control through fasting . We are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully.

Is lobster considered meat during Lent?

While fish, lobster, and other shellfish are not considered meat and can be consumed on days of abstinence, indulging in the lavish buffet at your favorite seafood place sort of misses the point. Abstaining from meat and other indulgences during Lent is a penitential practice.

How many days of fasting did the Council of Nicea recommend?

In 325, the Council of Nicea discussed a 40-day Lenten season of fasting, but it's unclear whether its original intent was just for new Christians preparing for Baptism, but it soon encompassed the whole Church.

Is Lent a Christian holiday?

Like all Christian holy days and holidays, Lent has changed over the years, but its purpose has always been the same.

Is Lent shorter in the Western Church?

The western church's Lent was one week shorter, but included Saturdays. But in both places, the observance was both strict and serious. Only one meal was taken a day, near the evening. There was to be no meat, fish, or animal products eaten.

Did Ash Wednesday pass with little notice?

Even around here at the Christianity Today offices, where Christian History is based, it seems that Ash Wednesday passed with little notice . There were just as many donut trays by the coffee pots, and just as many hamburgers in the lunch room.

Overview

Origin

Early Christianity records the tradition of fasting before Easter. The Apostolic Constitutions permit the consumption of "bread, vegetables, salt and water, in Lent" with "flesh and wine being forbidden." The Canons of Hippolytus authorize only bread and salt to be consumed during Holy Week. The practice of fasting and abstaining from alcohol, meat and lacticinia during Lent thus became established in the Church.

Etymology

Date and duration

Associated customs

Holy days within the season of Lent

Media coverage

See also