The Holy Season Of Lent- Part-1

When we think about Lent is to have fast or abstinence. But there is much more to know about it.

Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is the time to come back to God. It is a season for reflection and taking steps to change ourselves to prepare to welcome for the King Jesus Christ. . Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter.

By observing the forty days of Lent, every Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days. Sunday is not counted. Because Sunday is the day on which Christ arose, making it an inappropriate day to fast and mourn our sins. On Sunday we must celebrate Christ's resurrection for our salvation.

Who can fast?

Under canon law of the Church, a day of fast is one on which Catholics who are eighteen to sixty years old are required to keep a limited fast. One may eat a single, normal meal and have two snacks, so long as these snacks do not add up to a second meal. Children are not required to fast, but their parents must ensure they are properly educated in the spiritual practice of fasting. Those with medical conditions requiring a greater or more regular food intake can easily be dispensed from the requirement of fasting by their priests.

Abstinence

The law of abstinence requires a Catholic 14 years of age until death to abstain from eating meat on Fridays in honor of the Passion of Jesus on Good Friday. Meat is considered to be the flesh and organs of mammals and fowl. Moral theologians have traditionally considered this also to forbid soups or gravies made from them. Salt and freshwater species of fish, amphibians, reptiles and shellfish are permitted, as are animal derived products such as margarine and gelatin which do not have any meat taste.....


Stay tuned,will be back soon with more on Lent in upcoming 40 days.

-Vijay Bacwan(Bhumel)