17/02/2026
The Lenten season is a 40-day solemn, penitential period (excluding Sundays) in the Christian liturgical calendar that starts on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It commemorates the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert, serving as a time for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to prepare for Easter.
It is a time for reflection, repentance, and renewal, focusing on Jesus' sacrifice, death, and resurrection. The name itself comes from the Anglo-Saxon word lencten, meaning "lengthen" (referring to spring)
Duration: 40 days, symbolizing the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness, the 40 years of Israel's wilderness wanderings, and the 40 days Noah spent on the ark.
The Three Pillars:
Prayer: Deepening one's relationship with God.
Fasting: Practicing self-control and detachment from luxuries.
Almsgiving: Sharing resources with the needy.
Liturgical Practices: The liturgical color is purple, symbolizing repentance and sorrow for sin. It begins with the application of ashes on the forehead on Ash Wednesday.
Fasting Rules: In the Roman Catholic tradition, adults are expected to fast (one full meal) and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent.
Conclusion: The period prepares the faithful for the Holy Triduum—Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.
Many Christians use this time to voluntarily give up certain luxuries or habits to focus more on their spiritual life and connection to God.