Lent is a special time of prayer, penance, sacrifice and good works in preparation of the celebration of Easter. Since the earliest times of the Church, there is evidence of some kind of Lenten preparation for Easter. Although the practices may have evolved over the centuries, the focus remains the same: to repent of sin, to renew our faith and to prepare to celebrate joyfully the mysteries of our salvation. Moreover, an emphasis must be placed on performing spiritual works, like attending the Stations of the Cross, attending Mass, making a weekly holy hour before the Blessed Sacrament, taking time for personal prayer and spiritual reading and most especially making a good confession and receiving sacramental absolution.
Lenten Fast and Abstinence
Abstinence from meat is observed on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all the Fridays of Lent by all Catholics 14 years and older. Fasting is observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age but not yet 59. Those bound by this rule may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted as necessary to maintain strength according to one’s needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted. From its earliest days, the Church has urged the baptized and catechumens to observe the threefold discipline of fasting, alms giving and prayer as a preparation for the celebration of Easter. Failure to observe individual days of penance is not considered serious, but failure to observe any penitential days at all or a substantial number of such days must be considered serious.
Abstinence from meat is observed on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all the Fridays of Lent by all Catholics 14 years and older.
Lenten Regulations For The Diocese of Santa Rosa
- Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence, that is, limited to a single, full meal and abstinence from meat.
- The other Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence from meat.
- The law of fasting permits only one full meal a day, but it does allow the taking of some food in the morning and a second light meal at noon or in the evening, as you prefer. Persons who have completed their eighteenth year to the beginning of their sixtieth (60) year are obligated to fast.
- The law of abstinence from meat applies to all persons who have completed their fourteenth year of age. However, it is highly recommended that children from ages seven to fourteen years also follow the law of abstinence.
- All Catholics are encouraged to receive Holy Eucharist frequently during Lent and to receive the Sacrament of Penance so that all may be prepared to celebrate more fully the paschal mystery. Those who have received their first Holy Communion are to receive Holy Communion during the Easter season.
- The determination of these days of obligatory penance, as listed above, should not be understood as limiting the occasions for Christian penance. This penance is to help us see and shorten the distance between our present lives and the life God wants for each of us. “Penance should not be only internal and individual but external and social.” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy #110)
- Marriages may be celebrated with Mass and the nuptial blessing should always be given. It is, however, contrary to the spirit of penance during Lent to plan an elaborate wedding with lavish decorations.
“Penance should not be only internal and individual but external and social.”
pope francis’s lenten message
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops “What Is Lent?”
This is by far the best and most comprehensive site for everything you would want to know about Lent.
Bilingual Daily Lent Calendar – February 14 – March 28, 2024. Daily inspiration for your Lenten journey. Lent 2024 | Reflect. Repent. Restore. Cuaresma 2024 | Reflexiona. Arrepientete. Restaura.
Examination of Conscience based on the Ten Commandments.
10 Things to Remember During Lent
Why is Lent 40 Days?
Why we use ashes on Wednesday to mark the beginning of Lent.
God’s Gift of Forgiveness
Daily Reading – Take a Moment to Pray
with Today’s Readings
Prayer, Fasting, & Almsgiving
Lent FAQs
Stations of the Cross
Live or Online
The Stations of the Cross are offered every Friday during Lent at Sacred Heart Church. The English language celebration is at 5:30 pm and the Spanish at 7:00 pm.
There are many sites that offer The Stations of the Cross online. We recommend the Busted Halo site because if offers the chance to view each station separately or you can download a video with all the stations.
The Stations of the Cross is a devotion following the events leading to Jesus’ crucifixion. Prayers accompanying it allow time to reflect on the mystery of his death. Originally the Stations of the Cross was an actual physical journey in and around Jerusalem. Later the series was symbolized in outdoor shrines, and today many parishes display artistic representations in their sanctuaries.
Busted Halo has created a series of virtual stations designed for personal devotion. These stations relate to Jesus’ teachings about the Kingdom of God and the reason his vision of this Kingdom led to his death. Find a quiet place to watch these stations, and as you do the devotions be open to how God is speaking to you through the Stations of the Cross.
Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl
CRS Rice Bowl is the Lenten program of Catholic Relief Services, the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Through CRS Rice Bowl, faith communities in every diocese throughout the United States put their faith into action through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. For more information, please visit: www.crsricebowl.org
Loyola Resources For Your Lenten Journey
Lent means many things to many people. Whether you are seeking solemnity, renewal, or rejuvenation, the resources on this page offer inspiring insights for your observance of Lent.
Ignatian Resources For Lent
Lent is a season of repentance and renewal. We turn away from our sinfulness and recommit ourselves to following Jesus. Ignatian contemplation and reflective prayer encourage us in the season of Lent. Link to our Ignatian resources for Lent.
Praying Lent This Year
Lent offers us all a very special opportunity to grow in our relationship with God and to deepen our commitment to a way of life, rooted in our baptism. In our busy world, Lent provides us with an opportunity to reflect upon our patterns, to pray more deeply, experience sorrow for what we’ve done and failed to do, and to be generous to those in need.
We offer resources here to assist our entry into this wonderful season, from our preparing to begin Lent to our preparing to celebrate the holy three days following Lent.
Lenten Activities For Children
Lent is a great liturgical season to observe with kids to help teach them about the church year. Lent is the 40 days the come before Easter, and it is a season of adding extra prayers, fasting, and almsgiving. There are many ways to celebrate (or observe) Lent with children, and this is my page that links out to all of the resources I have available to help you with this!
Your Guide To A Catholic Lent
Your Guide To A Catholic Lent: Everything you need for a more spiritual Lent has 20 articles that cover everything you would want to know about Lent.
Pretzels & Lent
Find out the connection between pretzels and Lent and get their recipe for your own Lenten activity.
Hot Cross Buns & Lent
Every liturgical season has its own special traditions and customs. The more common Lenten traditions are ashes on Ash Wednesday, the palms of Palm Sunday, the Rice Bowl for almsgiving, and the devotion of the Stations of the Cross, usually each Friday of Lent. Another way of teaching about Lent is Hot Cross Buns. They are only available during the Lenten season, most often on Ash Wednesday and certainly Good Friday. Use the link to read their history and get recipes.
Four Online Lenten Retreats
The 40 days of Lenten fasting originate in Christ’s 40 days of fasting and prayer in the desert. So this time of year is perfect for making a retreat from the world to spend time with God, as Jesus did. But it’s not always easy to get away, or if you live with your children, elderly parents, or others for whom you are a caregiver. Fortunately, there are some great options online to bring a retreat to you. These 7 online retreats can bring you deep prayer and profound peace, without leaving your home. Join in one of them to grow in faith this Lent.
Pray More Lenten Retreat -This self-paced retreat starts February 17 and includes 6 speakers, 20 audio and video presentations, and 20 reflective study guides.
Ignatian Workout for Lent – “Life in Christ demands the same kind of vigilance, preparation, and training that a person undertakes as an athlete,” writes Tim Muldoon. Join Tim for The Ignatian Workout for Lent, based on the book of the same name. The online retreat includes audio reflections accompanied by suggestions for prayer and action.
Lenten Online Retreat. Creighton Online Ministries put together this eight-week online retreat, running from Ash Wednesday week until the second week of Easter, that’s specifically designed for busy people.
Welcome to An Ignatian Prayer Adventure. This is an adapted version of the Spiritual Exercises. The eight-week schedule makes it perfectly timed as a Lent and Easter retreat, but the adventure can be started at any time, on your schedule. Join in a flexible experience of daily prayer and reflection.
History of Lent
What are the origins of Lent? Did the Church always have this time before Easter?
Featured Lent Videos
During Lent we will be featuring different videos to help you learn and reflect about the season and to provide a short break from the hectic pace of life.
More Lent Videos
During Lent we will be featuring different videos to help you learn and reflect about the season and to provide a short break from the hectic pace of life.
Even More Lent Videos
During Lent we will be featuring different videos to help you learn and reflect about the season and to provide a short break from the hectic pace of life.
Project Rice Bowl
Songs for Lent 1
Catholic Kids Media has created relaxing, sing-along hymns for kids (and adults)!
Songs for Lent 2
Catholic Kids Media has created relaxing, sing-along hymns for kids (and adults)!
Songs for Lent 3
Catholic Kids Media has created relaxing, sing-along hymns for kids (and adults)!
Palm Sunday
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Holy Week
During Lent we will be featuring different videos to help you learn and reflect about the season and to provide a short break from the hectic pace of life.
Easter
During Lent we will be featuring different videos to help you learn and reflect about the season and to provide a short break from the hectic pace of life.
Easter Sunday – Cycle A
Jesus is Risen! A fun Catholic reflection for kids based on the readings for Easter Sunday, cycle A.
¡Domingo de Pascua! Una divertida reflexión católica para niños basada en las lecturas del Domingo de Pascua, ciclo A. ¡Apoye este canal en Patreon!
Palm folding: How to make a palm cross. Learn how to make a palm cross in time for Palm Sunday.
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