Lent

Lent is a penitential season made up of the 40 days leading up to Easter during which the Church commits herself to repentance, fasting, prayer, and giving alms to the poor. This season developed early on in the history of the Church as a time when new converts to the Christian faith prepared for baptism and the rest of the Church examined their lives alongside the newcomers. Because Lent mirrors the 40 years of Israel and the 40 days of Jesus in the desert, our colors switch to white and black, with gold accents, to remind us that much of the Christian life before our own resurrection is lived in the desert with our Lord. For our feast days and celebrations, please see our calendar below.