Lent is a 40-day liturgical period that the Catholic Church dedicates to spiritual preparation for the celebration of Easter, the most important holiday of Christianity. This time is characterized by reflection, penitence and conversion, inviting the faithful to renew their faith and commitment to God.

Meaning and Origin of Lent

“Lent” comes from the Latin Quadragesima, which means “forty.” This number has a deep symbolism in the Bible, recalling the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert fasting and praying before beginning his public life. It also evokes the 40 years that the people of Israel wandered through the desert in search of the Promised Land. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes on Holy Thursday, before the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.

Ash Wednesday: the beginning of Lent

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. On this day, the faithful receive the imposition of ashes on their foreheads as a sign of humility and recognition of their own human frailty. The ashes used come from the burning of blessed palms on Palm Sunday of the previous year. When imposing the ashes, the priest pronounces the words: “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return” or “Repent and believe in the Gospel,” recalling the call to conversion and repentance.

Lenten practices: prayer, fasting and almsgiving

During Lent, the Church proposes three fundamental practices to live this time fully:

• Prayer: Strengthen the relationship with God through moments of contemplation, participation in the Eucharist and other devotions such as the Stations of the Cross.
• Fasting: Voluntarily renouncing certain foods or habits as an act of penance and self-control. Fasting is obligatory on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday for the faithful between 18 and 59 years of age, allowing one heavy meal a day and two lighter ones that do not add up to a full meal.
• Abstinence: Avoid eating meat on Fridays during Lent as a sign of sacrifice and solidarity with those most in need. This practice is obligatory from the age of 14.

How to Live Lent Today

To live Lent authentically, we recommend:

• Personal reflection: Examine your own life, recognize the areas that need change, and seek reconciliation with God and others.
• Community participation: Get involved in parish activities, such as spiritual retreats, community confessions, and charitable works.
• Social commitment: Practice solidarity through almsgiving, supporting the most vulnerable, and promoting social justice.

Lent is an annual opportunity to renew faith, strengthen the spirit, and prepare deeply for the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection at Easter.