Lent

After passing through the Pre-Lent season, which includes Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima Sundays, we arrive at Lent. Septuagesima, Sexagesima and Quinquagesima all come from the Latin, meaning 70, 60 and 50 days respectively, indicating to us that we have in round, approximate numbers 70, 60, and 50 days before Easter.

On Shrove Tuesday in most Anglican churches, we mark the occasion with pancake suppers, coming from the custom of using up all the fat and cooking oil, which was forbidden during Lent. People also went to confession on that day to be “shriven” or stripped of their sins. Shrive comes from the Anglo-Saxon word “scrifan” and it means “to hear confession of; to pardon the sins in confession.” 
The next day, Ash Wednesday, is the first day of Lent. The date of Ash Wednesday depends on the date of Easter. Easter always falls between March 21 and April 18th, on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox, which is March 21.

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are fast days for Anglicans, and the forty days of Lent require “a measure of abstinence as is more especially suited to extraordinary acts and exercises of devotion” according to the Book of Common Prayer. (p.li)

The liturgical color for Pre-Lent and Lent is purple. While flowers adorn the altar during Pre-Lent, they are not used during Lent since it is a penitential season. The fourth Sunday in Lent is known as “Mothering” or “Refreshment” Sunday when rose-colored vestments may be used. The name Refreshment Sunday comes from the Gospel reading of Our Lord feeding the multitude.

The Fifth Sunday in Lent is Passion Sunday, as we begin to concentrate more on Our Lord’s suffering. During Passiontide all crosses, statuary, and ornamentation are veiled as signs of mourning, and the veiling remains in place until Easter Eve.

The following Sunday is Palm Sunday, when palms are distributed with processions as we remember Our Lord’s entrance into Jerusalem. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week.

In Holy Week, Maundy Thursday commemorates the institution of the Holy Communion. Maundy comes from the Latin “mandare” which means, “to command.” Our Lord said to us: “This is my command: Love each other.” (Jn.15: 17) and “do this in remembrance of me.” (Lk.22: 19) We recall the events of the last night of His earthly ministry in the symbolic act of foot washing, which is practiced in some Anglican Churches, in celebrating the Eucharist, and in stripping the altar. In some places, the Reserved Elements are placed on the “altar of repose” during the all night vigil as we respond to Jesus’ question “could ye not watch with me one hour?”

The next day is Good Friday, when we commemorate the Crucifixion. There is no consecration this day, and if there is to be Communion, it is from the Reserved Elements from Maundy Thursday.

Holy Saturday or Easter Even is the day that the Church recalls that Our Lord’s body rested in the grave and that He preached to the “souls in prison.” (1Pet. 3: 17) The name for the last three days of Holy Week is Triduum Sacrum; they are the most solemn days of the Church Year.

All of the 40 days of Lent lead us to the Great Feast of the Church, Easter Sunday. Splendid music, rich vestments, and beautiful ceremonies are all a part of the Triumph of the Resurrection of Our Lord.

As we approach Lent we remember that fasting is a Christian duty — that Our Lord expected us to fast. “WHEN ye fast…” (Matt. 6:16) If we read this whole passage of Scripture we will see that prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are linked together by Our Lord. As Dr. Pusey says, “fasting, prayer, and almsgiving — that is denial of self, love of others, and devotion to God, are the three heads under which Our Lord brings all Christian duties.” Prayer delivers us from the devil, fasting subdues the flesh, and almsgiving loosens the hold of the world.

The church in her wisdom has set aside certain times of prayer, fasting, and penitence. In a world that constantly tells us that “more is better” and urges us to “supersize” everything we eat and drink, Lent can become for us a refreshing period of saying “NO” to the world, the flesh, and the devil and “YES” to Jesus. If we keep a holy Lent, then Easter will surely be a day of rejoicing and a true feast after the fast.

Text by Donna Downen