LENT - time before Easter

One topic that was included in the lesson was the time before Easter called „LENT“. Some of the students observe LENT, while others only know the word. I shared with them further interesting information. Here you go.

LENT.

Lent, a time of penance and inner renewal, preparing for Jesus’s victorious arrival.Church’s liturgy pursues us to cleanse our spirits and start again.

Lent is an important event in the religious calendar for all Christians around the world.Lent covers the 40 days ahead of Easter – starting from Ash Wednesday and ending on Holy Saturday – and has become a time when people traditionally give something up.People give up different things for Lent including alcohol, caffeine, smoking, favourite foods and even television, driving to work by car or using mobiles or PCs.

This year Lent 2017 began on Wednesday, March 1 and ends on Thursday, April 13.

The reason Lent is 40 days is because 40 is a significant number in Christian scriptures and that Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert in preparation for his ministry.

Ash Wednesday is the day to clean the soul before Lent begins.Traditionally ashes are used to mark churchgoers on the forehead with a cross, to symbolize we regret our sins.

Palm Sunday is the final Sunday of Lent, the beginning of Holy Week, and reminds the triumphant arrival of Christ in Jerusalem, days before he was crucified.The use of a donkey instead of a horse is highly symbolic, it represents the humble arrival of someone in peace, as opposed to arriving on a steed in war.Palm branches are widely recognized symbol of peace and victory.

Holy week closes Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday.

Jesus on Wednesday left for the Mount of Olives On Wednesday, where he foretold the apostles the events of the next several days, including His incoming death.He returned to Jerusalem on Thursday, to share the Last Supper with His apostles.Jesus was betrayed by Judas on the night of the Last Supper.The following morning Christ was arrested.According to the gospels, after his flogging, Jesus was forced to carry his cross to the place of his execution, at Calvary.He was crucified at Calvary on Friday, outside the gates of Jerusalem.Good Friday is the day of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion.He was buried the same day, and arose three days later, on Easter Sunday.

Source: http://www.catholic.org/.