Sunday, February 24, 2008

DISCIPLINE of LENT on SUNDAYS in LENT?

“Lent” meaning “Springtime” is the 40 days before the celebration of Easter. During Lent the faithful enter into a “spring cleaning of their soul” so as to be able to worthily participate and celebrate the Paschal Mysteries of the Passion, the Death and the Resurrection of the Lord. All Christian Churches that have their founding before the Protestant Reformation observe the Lenten Season.

In determining the period of 40 days the example of Moses’ 40 years in the desert, Elijah’s 40 days in the desert, Jesus’ 40 days in the desert and the Body of Christ lying in the tomb for 40 hours have been the predominant theological underpinnings.

From the second century in Rome, the Church had six weeks before the Easter Triduum, which was exactly 40 days. But because ALL Sundays are observed as a ‘little Easter’ or the Lord’s Day, Sundays were skipped over and ‘relaxed from the fast’ (this does Not mean ‘feast and indulge’). By not counting the 6 Sundays we have only 36 days of Lent. 4 days were added, from Ash Wednesday through Saturday to complete the 40 days. On Sundays in Lent a penitential tone is still to be observed. There is no ceiling to holiness or one’s attitude to do more!