What is Lent?

Lent starts each year on Ash Wednesday, which this year falls on February 18^th. The season of Lent last for 40 days (excluding Sundays) from Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday, that is the day before Good Friday.

Lent is traditionally a time to prepare our hearts to commemorate the death of Jesus on the cross on Good Friday. It is usually marked by fasting of various forms, whether abstaining from meat, or sweet things, or complete fasts for part of the time, for example a weekly 24 hour fast.

It is our sins that required Jesus to die on the cross, so we are all complicit in His suffering. Lent is a time to humble ourselves and to examine our lives to see what sins we still need to conquer.

In the time leading up to Ash Wednesday, it is a good idea to ask God what He would like you to do to mark Lent. Perhaps it will involve fasting from food, or technology, or perhaps more prayer time.