LENT is a season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving that begins with Ash Wednesday and concludes at sundown on Holy Thursday. At this point, the Easter Triduum begins and Catholics enter more deeply into the mystery of Christ’s Passion before Easter.

Although penance is a calling of every Catholic throughout his or her life, Lent is a season specially marked out for the Church to be ‘united among themselves by common observance’ of it (Code of Canon Law, §1249). It is a way of growing in the faith together.

What is penance?

Although the term penance might sounds strange to modern ears, and perhaps hold some negative connotations, you might be surprised to learn that penance in the Catholic tradition is considered a virtue, one we’re invited to live in our whole lives, not just in the sacrament of Reconciliation.

Lent, as a penitential season, is the time for us to turn radically back to God; to experience true conversion and repentance. This conversion, however, is primarily the work of grace, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (§1432). Lent should not be approached simply as a season of self-denial, then, but welcomed as a season of grace, in which our hearts can be softened.

Is Lent just about ‘giving something up’?

No. As you’ve probably caught on by now, giving something up—or fasting—is only one of three things we should be focusing on throughout Lent. The other two, prayer and almsgiving, are very much about ‘taking something up’.

What are our Lenten obligations?

In Australia and New Zealand, the obligations for Lent are:

¨ Catholics aged 18-59 should fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday

¨ Catholics aged 14 and older should abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday

¨ Catholics aged 14 and over should abstain from meat on every Friday of the year, including Lent or substitute this with another form of penance, either in prayer, fasting or almsgiving

Taking up some form of voluntary penance throughout the season of Lent is also expected.

What is the difference between fasting and abstinence?

On a day of fasting, Catholics are supposed to have one normal-sized meal and two ‘snacks’ (or ‘smaller meals’), which cannot, put together, equal a full meal.

On a day of abstinence, Christians are asked to abstain from meat (although seafood is allowed).

Why do we have obligations?

According to the Catechism, obligations like this are there to serve the moral and spiritual life of the faithful. The purpose is to make plain ‘the very necessary minimum in the spirit of prayer and moral effort, in the growth in love of God and neighbour’ (CCC, §2041)—essentially, they are the lowest bar we have to meet to grow in the spiritual life.

Fr Rex