Why Do We Need Lent?

Lent might be the most special time of the year because we can experience it either in a good way, or in a bad way. “But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”- said Jesus according to the Gospel of Matthew. Lent is one of the most important, yet most misunderstood period of time in the Christian faith. But what is the right way, how should we fast? Do we really need it? What might be my “desolation”?

“Give in a way that it hurts”- Mother Teresa said once, referring to the fact that many only donate what is surplus to their requirements, and that is no real giving. Her words – even though she meant them for helping the poor – apply perfectly for Lent, too. Of course, we do not mean physical pain, but that we can feel the shortage. But what we will initially see as a shortage shall become our greatest gift later on. It is also important to pay attention to the proportions.

Lent is the most special time of the year because we can experience it either in a good way, or in a bad way. According to the regulations of the Church, the minimal renunciation of this 40-days period is restraining from meat on Fridays, and strict fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, which means, besides restraining from meat, only three meals a day (reaching the state of satiation once a day). But this is only the “basic” level, if we want to do more for our preparation, our possibilities are almost limitless. Naturally, using common sense. We cannot do, like Jesus did, spending forty days in the desert without eating. Neither should we follow the example of Theresa Neumann, who – in the last 40 years of her life – consumed no food, except for the Holy Communion. Of course, we must not go to the other extreme either: it may not be worth giving up on the Eucharist.

Jesus does not want us to be crippled by fasting, so the children, the elderly, the sick or the physical workers are not advised to join those by abstaining from life giving and much needed food. The weakened body as well as the elderly generation needs proteins, the muscle- and fabric-building role of proteins is irreplaceable. They can find another kind of “sacrifice”. (Centuries ago even travellers got an absolution, because since it is hard to imagine anything harder than walking for days, or even weeks.) There are special instances when eating meat on a Friday of Lent can be forgiven even in case of a strong and healthy person. For example, when we eat not to hurt the feeling of our host, who had not been aware of the period of Lent and prepared only meat.

Since everyone is different, the real renunciation – after which we can arrive at our own “desert” and which brings both spiritual and physical renewal as well as bringing us closer to Jesus and through him to our own happiness – means something different for everyone. St. Augustine said: “Fasting purifies the heart, illuminates the mind, strengthens the will, weakens sensuality, controls desires, puts out the torches of passion, and lights the flames of purity.”

Voluntary resignation and abstinence shall make our character nobler, we will learn that it is not our body that is in control but our soul. In today’s world it is extremely important not to let our decisions be dominated by our physical comfort, even though we live in a consumer society. By disciplining our body we even might achieve unexpected results: according to dietitians with one or two meat-free days per week we can disencumber our digestive system, as well as doing good even for the Earth and the flora and fauna.

Jesus said: “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting.” (Mt 6:16) It is a bigger sin to abstain from something only to be felt sorry. Because Lent is not the time of mourning, but of joy, rest and purification. By distancing from the “earthly desires”, it prepares our souls to participate in the liturgy of the Easter Triduum with a sympathetic spirit and we may receive the feast of our salvation with a pure heart, soul and body.

Interesting facts about Lent

If we add up the days from Ash Wednesday to Easter we get more, than 40 days. That is because officially the Sundays are not fasting days, even during the time of Lent.

We call the weeks preceding Easter Lent but in fact each and every Friday of the year is considered a penitential day when no meat should be consumed, thus being reminded of the death of Christ.

In the Ancient Church they did not celebrate the Holy Mass on the days of Lent as a sign of remembrance and reverence, they took the earlier consecrated Eucharist. This is practiced today only on Good Friday.

In the second century the Lent lasted for a mere two days, in the third century for about two weeks, and in the fourth century the forty-days fast, the “Quadragesima” became widespread.

From the period of Antiquity until the 12th-13th centuries, those committing a grave sin (for example idolatry, witchcraft, usury, abducting women, arson) had to do a public expiation, which lasted from Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday. Among many other sacrifices a part of this was a “penitent” haircut, very strict and abstaining from any pleasures.

A few practical ideas for Lent:

What if we want to keep our fasting a secret, but someone asks why we do not eat meat or why we refuse the offered chocolate. Instead of denying it, we should explain our reasons.

During these forty days the young might vow to put down the remote control, and pick up the mops and help more with the chores.

If we are sweet-toothed cutting back the weekly dose of chocolate is considered a particularly significant renunciation which may even have beneficial physiological effects. In any case it is a kind gift for God.

Couples might pledge to reach for their mobiles less (perhaps not at all after 8:00 p.m.) and spend more time with each other.

If we have a younger sibling, we should commit to spend more time with him or her, to play football together, or help them study.

No matter how strange it may sound, taking up some sport might also be a good resolution, since we are giving up our comfort.

We also might pledge to go to mass even on weekdays and take communion regularly. Taking the Eucharist might bring us closer to the coming holy feast.

Photo: Wikipedia