Victor I, commenting on the celebration of Easter and the differences between practices in the East and the West: "The dispute is not only about the day, but also about the actual character of the fast. Some think that they ought to fast for one day, some for two, others for still more; some make their 'day' last 40 hours on end.
Such variation in the observance did not originate in our own day, but very much earlier, in the time of our forefathers" Eusebius, History of the Church , V, When Rufinus translated this passage from Greek into Latin, the punctuation made between "40" and "hours" made the meaning to appear to be "40 days, twenty-four hours a day.
However, the actual practices and duration of Lent were still not homogenous throughout the Church. Lent becomes more regularized after the legalization of Christianity in A. The Council of Nicea , in its disciplinary canons, noted that two provincial synods should be held each year, "one before the 40 days of Lent.
Athanasius d. Cyril of Jerusalem d. Cyril of Alexandria d. Finally, Pope St. Leo d. One can safely conclude that by the end of the fourth century, the day period of Easter preparation known as Lent existed, and that prayer and fasting constituted its primary spiritual exercises. Of course, the number "40" has always had special spiritual significance regarding preparation. On Mount Sinai, preparing to receive the Ten Commandments, "Moses stayed there with the Lord for 40 days and 40 nights, without eating any food or drinking any water" Ex Most importantly, Jesus fasted and prayed for "40 days and 40 nights" in the desert before He began His public ministry Mt Once the 40 days of Lent were established, the next development concerned how much fasting was to be done.
In this first century text, Ezra prepares to receive revelations from God by abstaining from food and drink for seven days. After his period of fasting, an angel tells him divine secrets. It is little wonder, then, that later Christians began to associate fasting with being close to God.
Christian texts as early as the second century talk about fasting leading up to Easter, but different Christian groups appear to observe different types and lengths of fasts, and even within a church there were differences of opinion. Irenaeus of Lyons noted the variety :. For the dispute is not only about the day, but also about the actual form of the fast. For some think that they should fast one day, others two, others again more; some for that matter, count their day as consisting of 40 hours day and night.
The earliest reference to a sustained fast of more than two or three days is in the Didascalia , a Syrian Christian document probably from the the third century AD. Therefore you shall fast in the days of the Pascha from the tenth, which is the second day of the week; and you shall sustain yourselves with bread and salt and water only, at the ninth hour, until the fifth day of the week. But on the Friday and on the Sabbath fast wholly, and taste nothing … For thus did we also fast, when our Lord suffered, for a testimony of the three days ….
It is sufficient, I say, that from the time of their submissive approach, other forty days should be enjoined upon them, to keep them in remembrance of these things; those forty days during which, though our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ had fasted, He was yet, after He had been baptised, tempted of the devil. Indeed, the likely reason why fasting later became associated with the run-up to Easter is that people started holding baptisms at Easter.
In addition to fasting, the Catholic Church requires people age 14 and older to abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent. Fish, shellfish, amphibian and reptile meat are OK, not that you'd necessarily find roasted snake on a dinner menu anywhere!
Almsgiving is the giving away of superfluous goods, particularly to help the needy, according to Rev. Every day, people tackle a different area of the house and fill a bag with unwanted times, with the intent of simplifying their lives. It intentionally coincides with Lent and at then end of the period, the items are donated, helping others in need.
One variation is collecting 40 items rather than 40 bags. This concept of doing a good deed is often incorporated into Lenten observances, so that the observer is not just giving up a vice, but also starting a virtue, whether it's doing volunteer work, contributing to a cause or trying to incorporate something positive in their life, such as being more grateful every day. For those who're struggling with the thought of doing without chocolate or alcohol for six weeks straight, know that you have an "out," in that Sundays are exempt.
Peter Coxe. Other "cheat days" so to speak, or more accurately feast days are the Annunciation March 25 and St. Joseph's Day March Sign up for our Newsletter!
Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. Western Spirituality. In celebration of Ash Wednesday , Jonathan Randall Grant, of the Urban Village Church, rubs ashes on the forehead of a commuter outside of a subway station in the Logan Square neighborhood in Chicago.
Now That's Good to Know. Lent is a period of penance and abstinence observed by many Christians. Lent is an homage to Jesus' 40 days spent fasting in the desert in preparation for his ministry on Earth. When you give up something for Lent when does it end? Lent usually begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday.
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