A Lenten Primer & Observance Opportunities at SMCA (By Carolyn Leatherman, Theology Instructor)

Lenten Prayer Opportunities at SMCA
  • Stations of the Cross: Fridays during Lent at 12:45 p.m. (Chapel)
  • Rosary: Thursdays at 8:05 a.m. (Chapel)
  • Women’s Bible Study: Fridays at 7:45 a.m. (Chapel)

What is God’s Invitation to us During Lent?
“Return to me with your whole heart…” (Joel 2:12)

What is Lent?
Beginning on Ash Wednesday, Lent is a 40-day period leading up to Easter where we are called to honestly examine our hearts to discover the barriers that prevent the authentic communion--with God and others--that God desires for us. During Lent the Lord invites us to a renewed relationship with him by looking at ourselves through his eyes--the eyes of Mercy-- and recognizing his patient invitation to turn away from sin and back towards him. This turning away from sin, towards God, is called conversion in the Christian life--something that we are continuously called to each day of our life.
Since the earliest times of the Church, there is evidence of some kind of Lenten preparation for Easter. The fact that Lent is 40 days is significant, since the number "40" has always had special spiritual significance regarding preparation. On Mount Sinai, preparing to receive the Ten Commandments, "Moses stayed there with the Lord for 40 days and 40 nights, without eating any food or drinking any water" (Exodus 34:28). Elijah walked "40 days and 40 nights" to the mountain of the Lord, Mount Horeb (another name for Sinai) (I Kings 19:8). Most importantly, Jesus fasted and prayed for "40 days and 40 nights" in the desert before He began His public ministry (Matthew 4:2).

What is the meaning of the ashes on Ash Wednesday?
The liturgical use of ashes originates in the Old Testament times. Ashes symbolize mourning, mortality and penance. In our present liturgy for Ash Wednesday, we use ashes made from the burned palm branches distributed on the Palm Sunday of the previous year. The priest blesses the ashes and puts them on our foreheads, making the sign of the cross and saying, "Remember, man you are dust and to dust you shall return," or "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel."

As we begin this holy season of Lent in preparation for Easter, we must remember the significance of the ashes we have received: We mourn and do penance for our sins, making a renewed act of confidence in the infinite mercy of God, who is a loving Father and is always waiting to offer his gift of forgiveness if we turn to him. We again convert our hearts to the Lord, who suffered, died, and rose for our salvation. We renew the promises made at our baptism, when we died to an old life and rose to a new life with Christ. Finally, mindful that the kingdom of this world passes away, we strive to live the kingdom of God now and look forward to its fulfillment in heaven.

What do we do during Lent?
The traditional practices of Lent focus on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as ways to respond to the Lord’s invitation to conversion and deepen our relationship with Him.
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