By Thomas Vandergon
Contributing Writer
Many Christians joined in the devotion of Lent, which began yesterday on Ash Wednesday. Lent is a season of prayer, fasting and charity that has its roots in the early Christian church.
Although it is unclear how the 40 days of Lent actually began, it is certain that by the early part of the 4th century, from the Council of Nicea (circa A.D. 325) and the letters of St. Athanasius (A.D. 331), that a period of fasting and abstinence was recommended for the faithful prior to the Holy Week fast. This period was referred to as quadrigesima (Latin for “forty days” or more literally “the fortieth day”).
The 40 days of Lent actually encompass more than 40 days because the Western Church does not include the Sundays during Lent in this period of fast and penitence. This is because Sundays are celebrations of the Resurrection of Christ and therefore not appropriate times for penitence.
Traditionally, Lent was the time in which the Catechumenate (people being prepared for full entry into the faith community) were undergoing an intense period of inner scrutiny and spiritual reflection. This scrutiny and reflection was extended to the entire church community as a means of renewing and increasing their own faith.
Spiritual disciplines often encouraged fasting as a means of opening oneself to the voice of God and freeing oneself from worldly needs. Fasting and prayer originally occurred throughout the Lenten period, but later became restricted to Fridays and to the period of Holy Week. Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church now calls for days of abstinence from eating meat on the Fridays during Lent and for fast and abstinence on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
The tradition of penitence for 40 days is based on many biblical sources, including Moses’ stay on the mountain for 40 days (Exodus 24:18), Elijah’s travel to the mountain of Horeb for 40 days prior to his vision (1 Kings 19:8), and most important, Jesus’ 40 days in the desert prior to the beginning of his ministry (Matthew 4:2).
During Lent, Christians are asked to join Jesus in his time of contemplation, reflection and preparation. Catholics observe the beginning of this period just as the early Hebrews did by placing ashes on our foreheads (2 Samuel 13:19, Esther 4:1-3, and Job 42:6). Ashes are derived from burning palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday service, which are mixed with charism, a type of oil.
Many people, Catholic or not, celebrate the day before Lent, Shrove Tuesday, better known as Mardi Gras. On this day, people share one last fling and throw elaborate parties before abstaining from meat and fasting. The term “Carnival” used to describe Mardi Gras festivities comes from the Latin term meaning “farewell to meat.”
Pope John Paul II in his “Message for Lent 2002” calls for us to reflect on the “measureless gift of grace which is Redemption.” His theme for Lent 2002 is close to the heart of the Pepperdine community’s. “You received without paying, give without pay” (Matthew 10:8).
In his message, the Pope asks the faithful to reflect on the gift of Jesus’ choice and sacrifice and prepare to offer it freely to our brothers and sisters, “May the Lenten journey be for all believers an unceasing summons to enter more deeply into this special vocation of ours,” the Pope stated.
“As believers, we must be open to a life marked by ‘gratuitousness’, by the giving of ourselves unreservedly to God and neighbor.” (The complete text of this letter and other messages from the Pope can be found at http://www.vatican.va/ holy_father/john_paul_ii/messages.)
Lent can mean different things to people. Some view this as a time of self-denial, while others view it as a time of spiritual growth.
Since the time of the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Church has tried to focus less on rules and regulations with regard to fast and abstinence and more on Lent as a period of prayer and self-examination.
I asked several Pepperdine students who attend Our Lady of Malibu Catholic Church what Lent means. For sophomore biology major Cisco Sanchez-Navarro, Lent means “A time to find your place in the Church.”
Julia Gomez, a senior telecommunications major, reflects on Lent as “a time of giving up things you don’t need in life – only needing the essentials.” And John Valdez, a junior business major, feels that Lent is “a time of purification before Easter – getting back to fundamentals.”
Whatever we accomplish by observing Lent, all Christians look forward to the Resurrection of Christ on Easter morning and thank God for the gift of his only son who sacrificed his life for our salvation.
February 14, 2002