Lent:
A History, its Precept, and a Challenge

A History:

The Church did not widely observe a period of forty days' penance until about the fourth century. Up to that time, there were many divergent practices observed before the Easter holiday. St. Irenaues, bishop of Lyons, addressing the controversies surrounding the dating and celebration of Easter, wrote: "Some think they ought to fast for one day, others for two days, and others even for several, while others reckon forty hours both of day and night to their fast". He also remarked that there had been some variety of penitential customs since Apostolic times. We can be certain that by the fourth century, a period of forty days before Easter was observed. We know from the "Festal Letters" of St. Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria (b. 296- d. 373) that he prescribed a forty days' fast in the year 331 A.D. In 339 he traveled to Rome and throughout Europe, then wrote to his flock that the forty days' fast was observed in the rest of the Church, and enjoined upon them to do likewise.

The period of Lent may have been said to be forty days, but in actual fact it could have been more or less. In the West, Lent was reckoned to last 6 weeks. The fast was only observed on weekdays, i.e. everyday except Sunday. Therefore, the period of fasting was in fact 36 days. In the East, it counted as 7 weeks, therefore, it was 42 days. Nor did the faithful fast everyday. Fasting become more central to the penitential practices, and gradually the rules became very strict. The Church even tagged on Ash Wednesday to the calendar to make the period an even forty days in the seventh century. Only one meal per day was allowed, and it was to be taken in the evening. Pope St. Gregory the Great (b. 540-d.594) wrote to St. Augustine of Canterbury: "We abstain from flesh meat, and from all things that come from flesh, as milk, cheese, and eggs." This became the universal law of the Church. Exceptions to "lacticinia" (fast from milk and eggs) were occasionally granted by church authorities for pious works.

For example, one of the steeples of the Cathedral of Rouen was known as the "Butter Tower" because it was built using the proceeds from donations of those who benefited from the exception. The prohibition of eggs during Lent made popular the custom of making pancakes on Shrove Tuesday (aka "Mardi Gras") and of giving gifts of eggs at Easter.

The Lenten Precepts (note: the following are the rules for the United States. Other countries may differ.)

The Lenten Season begins on Ash Wednesday and ends just before the Mass of the Last Supper on Holy Thursday. The penitenial practices are observed everyday during this period except Sundays, or other solemnities, in which the any mortifications, special fasts, etc, are suspended in favor of the Feast day—a day of celebration.

• Abstinence precepts: On Ash Wednesday and on all Fridays of Lent and on Good Friday all Catholics from age 14 are to abstain from meat (eggs, milk products and condiments made from animal fat are okay). Soup flavored with meat, meat gravy and sauces are acceptible.
  
  Contrary to popular opinion, we are to observe every Friday of the year (unless it is a solemnity) with either abstinence from meat or the performance of some penitential act such as extra prayers, giving alms, or works of mercy and charity. We have a choice in the United States on non-Lenten Fridays but we are required to do something each Friday of the year that is not a solemnity.



• Fasting precepts: In the U.S. one must fast on Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday if they are between the ages of 18 - 59. Fasting regulations allow one full meal a day, plus if needed, two snacks of a quantity which together cannot add up to the amount of the full meal. The meals and two snacks may be taken in any order during the day. The drinking of ordinary liquids is okay.



• Obligation to these Precepts: These precepts are binding under sin. Of course medical conditions and other serious and legitimate reasons can excuse the fasting and/or abstinence. In such cases, the person may perform an alternate penance: works of charity, prayer and prayer-related practices, and almsgiving.
  
  Almsgiving, be the way, means giving money to charities, beggars on the street, and the like. This is a giving that is up and beyond our normal tithes and offerings. Almsgiving should hurt a little more as it is extra to the sacrifice of the tithes and offerings we regularly give.

A Lenten Challenge:

What will be "given up" for Lent? Most people approach this in its simplest and least mortifying form and not really from a spiritual growth point of view.

There are three levels of mortification. Most people will practice Level 1 during Lent. But to have any real benefit from Lent we need to aspire to Level 2, and better yet, Level 3. What are these levels?

• Level 1: giving something up that is not in itself sinful, but may be a habit that one wishes to overcome. This level of mortification is using Lent like a therapy to overcome habits. Things like giving up T.V, coffee, etc. generally fall into this category. This level is still a valuable practice as it helps to ensure that nothing will be our master. 1 Cor 6:12: "Everything is lawful for me, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is lawful for me, but I will not let myself be dominated by anything."



• Level 2: giving something up that is a major "occasion of sin", that seriously tempts you into sin. This can be - Movies or T.V. if these things cause too must temptation to lust or sexual sins for example. It may mean giving up the "boys night out" or "girls night out" if that provides a serious temptation to sin such as drunkenness and lewdness, etc. This is giving up things that are serious occasions of sin for you, that cause you great temptations with sins that you often repeat or have trouble overcoming. This kind of mortifcation is critical if you are to hope to stop your habitual sins. At the every least, this level should be a level of mortification for Lent and throughout the year.
• Level 3: giving something up that has nothing to do with a bad habit or a sinful temptation or occasion of sin. This is the highest form of mortification. It involves giving something up that you don't have to give up and for which is not something one would need to give-up, but doing so anyway as a religious exercise of Love and devotion to God. For example, if you love flowers, give up smelling flowers. St. Louis de Montfort mentioned this in his Rule for one of his religious communities. Offer that mortification up to God for the salvation of souls or for the souls in purgatory. This level of mortification is a level of true self-sacrifice. Levels 1 and 2 deal with things that you ought to give-up anyway. Level 3 is giving up things you don't need to but choose to for the shear Love of God and for the grace that it brings to others. It is a true sacrificial mortification.

What will you give up for Lent?