Lent 2024

Lent is a forty-day (excluding Sundays) period of fasting, repentance and spiritual discipline in the Christian calendar, observed by many denominations including the Anglican Church. The word Lent derives from "lencten," an Old English term meaning spring. The origins of Lent can be traced back to the early Christian Church. In the early centuries, Lent was primarily observed as a period of preparation for baptism. Catechumens, or those who were preparing for baptism, would undergo a period of instruction and formation in the Christian faith, culminating in their baptism at the Easter Vigil. Over time, the observance of Lent expanded beyond just preparation for baptism. It became a season of repentance and spiritual discipline for all Christians, not just catechumens. The length of Lent has varied throughout history. In some Christian traditions, it was observed for only a few days, while in others, it lasted for several weeks. It wasn’t until the Council of Nicea in 325 AD that the duration of Lent was standardized at forty days, to reflect the forty days that Jesus spent in the wilderness before beginning his public ministry.