Lent began in the 4th century and is made up of three strands. The first strand is the ancient paschal fast, which originally began as a two day preparation for Easter and over time became forty days long. The second strand concerned those preparing for baptism, known as the catechumens. The third strand is the Order of Penitents, which offered those who had been baptised and then turned away from God an opportunity to do penance and renew their relationship with God. Thus, the forty days of Lent was the final stage of the journey for the catechumens preparing for baptism; the penitents and the rest of the community who prayed and fasted accompanied them on this journey and prepared to renew their baptismal promises at the Easter Vigil. Over time, however, this link between Lent and baptism became less obvious and it is only since the Second Vatican Council that the connection has been firmly re-established.

Our challenge this Lent is to see it as an opportunity to renew the commitment to new life in Christ first made in baptism, affirmed in confirmation and continually strengthened in Eucharist. What we turn away from or give up this Lent may be those things which prevent us from living in the light that only Christ can bring. The call in Lent is to conversion, to a change of heart that enables us to live as a child of the light.

Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. On this day, we begin our Lenten journey to Easter and even though this is not a Holy Day of Obligation, our churches are often full to capacity with people who want to be marked with ashes. Ash Wednesday is a fast day.

On Ash Wednesday, the priest blesses the ashes. These ashes are made from the burning of palms, which were blessed on Palm Sunday last year.

The priest or minister makes the sign of the cross as he puts the ashes on our foreheads and says, ‘Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel,’ or similar words. The signing with ashes reminds us of our dying to the old way of life in baptism and challenges us to live our lives in the light of faith.

Three Pillars of Lent
The three pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. These pillars support our journey back to God at Easter.

Prayer
Lent is an opportunity for us to make more time for prayer in our lives. Why not make a promise to spend time with God in prayer this Lent? All over the world and perhaps in your parish catechumens are preparing to be baptised at the Easter Vigil; remember them in your prayers.

Fast and abstain - what does it mean?
"Is not this the fast that I choose: Remove the chains of prisoners who are chained unjustly. Free those who are abused?” Isaiah 58:6

As Catholics, we are asked to fast on just two days in the year, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Fasting means that we eat only one full meal in a day, with no food in-between meals.  We can have two other small meals during the day. We are also asked to abstain from eating meat as part of our meal on these days. The fasting rule applies to those aged between eighteen and fifty nine. Those aged fourteen and above are asked to abstain from meat.
 
Some people are not required to fast; these include those who are sick, pregnant or nursing women, manual labourers according to need, and guests at a meal who cannot excuse themselves without giving great offense.

In the past Irish Catholics were required to abstain from meat every Friday. Lent offers us an opportunity to voluntarily revisit this tradition.

Many people see Lent as a time of fasting from something. We may give up sweets or cigarettes, we may fast from words that are hurtful to ourselves and others or we may fast from habits that keep us from living in the light.

Almsgiving
Inextricably linked to our fasting, whatever form it may take, must be a concern for those who have no choice but to fast because of poverty and injustice. That concern connects us directly back to our baptismal commitment of making Christ present in our world through our actions. We can express this concern most directly by giving what we can to charity and promoting justice and equality for all the people of the world. Some concrete ways of doing this are: making ecologically sound lifestyle choices, being fully ethical in our business dealings and supporting the Trócaire Lenten Campaign and/or the Fair Trade Campaign.