Preparing for Lent

There are traditionally forty days in Lent to correspond to Jesus’ Temptation in the Wilderness for 40 days without food and water. It’s a time which is marked by fasting, both from foods and festivities, and by other acts of penance. The three traditional practices to be taken up with renewed vigor during Lent are prayer (justice towards God), fasting (justice towards self), and almsgiving (justice towards neighbor). The Gloria in Excelsis Deo is not sung during the Lenten season, disappearing on Ash Wednesday and not returning until the moment of the Resurrection during the Easter Vigil. Likewise, the Alleluia is not sung during Lent; it is replaced before the Gospel reading by a seasonal acclamation. You are encouraged to practicing dying and self denial by entering into some form of fasting and prayer during this dark season in our liturgical calendar.