Lent, perhaps the most important Christian period of the year, began on Wednesday. Lent represents the 40 days and 40 nights Jesus spent in the wilderness, where according to the Bible, he resisted temptation from the devil.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Palm Sunday when Christians put together what they have been sacrificing for the poor. Lent started in the 4th Century; it was introduced to encourage a return to self-discipline.

At that time, baptisms normally took place on Easter Day and members of the Church would join those preparing for baptism by fasting for several weeks beforehand.

Gradually Christians began to associate the fast with the 40 day period, when Jesus went into the desert to fast and pray in preparation for his Ministry.

During this time he was tempted several times by Satan, but was able to resist. Traditionally, Christians gave up meat, fat, eggs and dairy products during Lent.

According to Rev. Tito Mugenzi, during this period, Christians meditate with awe and thanksgiving on the great mystery of salvation that God won for sinners through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Around the world Christian observe this period in different ways. In the UK, it is traditional to give up a particular indulgence that one enjoys such as sweets, chocolate or alcohol. Whatever the sacrifice, it is a reflection of Jesus’ deprivation in the wilderness and a test of self-discipline.

In Rwanda, each year religious leaders decide upon a particular need within society which they will encourage their congregations to focus on during the Lent period. This year the focus is on giving to the poor. Beggars and orphans will be some of the beneficiaries of the season.

Some Christians go to hospitals to visit and help the sick, where as others go to villages to help the old people and needy. Believers give all they can without any social attachments.

People give in faith anything they feel can help the poor; and in so doing, their relationship with God is renewed. Lent, however, may be observed as an opportunity to make some changes in one’s life; in giving up something you love such as smoking and excessive taking of alcoholic drinks.

Today the above practices are considerably relaxed, but the opportunity to make some changes in one’s life ought not to be missed. These small but significant changes strengthen one’s self-control and limit self-indulgence. This improves one’s life and the lives of those living around you.

Pope Benedict XVI’s Message

Each year, the reigning Pope gives a special message at the beginning of Lent for all Christians. This year, the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, focused his message on the poor with the theme: "Christ made Himself poor for you”.

"For this year’s Lenten Message, I wish to spend some time reflecting on the practice of almsgiving, which represents a specific way to assist those in need and, at the same time, an exercise in self-denial to free us from attachment to worldly goods”, said the Pope.

He added that, according to the teaching of the Gospel, we are not owners but rather administrators of the goods we possess: these, then, are not to be considered as our exclusive possession, but means through which the Lord calls each one of us to act as a steward of His providence for our neighbour.

He particularly called upon those countries whose population is majority Christian, that the call to share is even more urgent, since their responsibility toward the many who suffer poverty and abandonment is even greater; to come to the aid of the poor is a duty of justice even prior to being an act of charity.

Some facts about Lent

Why is it called Lent?

Lent is an old English word meaning ‘lengthen’. Lent is observed in spring, when the days begin to get longer.
Shrove Tuesday.

Known by many as ‘Pancake Day’, Shrove Tuesday is a day of penitence to clean the soul, and a day of celebration as the last chance to feast before Lent begins.

Shrove Tuesday gets its name from the ritual of shriving that Christians used to undergo in the past. In shriving, a person confesses sins and receives absolution for them.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent for Western Christian Churches. Roman Catholic, Anglican, and some other Churches hold special services during which worshippers are marked with ashes as a symbol of death, and sorrow for sin.

According to this tradition, palm ashes are mixed with a small amount of olive oil and applied to the forehead of each worshipper. The smear mark made by the dirty ashes is a powerful reminder that death is the penalty for our depraved natures and sinful acts of thought, word, and deed.

The fact that the ashes are placed on foreheads in the sign of the cross directs Christians to Jesus Christ as the only way to forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life in heaven.

The ashes smeared, are a product of palm leaves that were used during the Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday) celebrations of the past year.

Why 40 days?

40 is a significant number in Jewish-Christian scripture:

- In Genesis, the flood which destroyed the earth was brought about by 40 days and nights of rain.

- The Hebrews spent 40 years in the wilderness before reaching the Promised Land.

- Moses fasted for 40 days before receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai.

- Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness in preparation for his Ministry.

Most Christians regard Jesus’ time in the wilderness as the key event for the duration of Lent.

The purple colour

Purple is the symbolic colour used in many churches throughout Lent, for drapes and altar frontals. Purple is used is associated with mourning and so anticipates the pain and suffering of the crucifixion that is celebrated on Good Friday; two days before Easter Sunday.

East and West

Both the Eastern and Western Churches observe Lent, but they count the 40 days differently. The Western Church excludes Sunday (which is celebrated as the day of Christ’s resurrection), whereas the Eastern Church includes it.

The churches also start Lent on different days. Western churches start Lent on the 7th Wednesday before Easter Day (called Ash Wednesday).

Eastern churches start Lent on the Monday of the 7th week before Easter and end it on the Friday 9 days before Easter Sunday. Eastern churches call this period the ‘Great Lent’.

Holy Week

The last week of Lent, the week before Easter Sunday, is called Holy Week. It starts on Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday) when Christians celebrate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

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