LENT - Fast - Give - Prepare - Pray

This insert was handed out with our church bulletin this morning, so I thought I would pass it on to my readers.

For Presbyterians the 40-day season of Lent is an important one. But what is Lent? Do the Scripture mention it? Why do we observe it?

Though the Scriptures do not mention Lent, it was a longstanding tradition in the Church. It began very simply as a time of preparation for Easter. From the earliest times it was customary for Christians in most places to fast before Easter (or the Paschal Feast). At first this was a 2-day fast (Friday and Saturday). As time passed, the fast was extended here and there to a week (E.G.  in Alexandria and perhaps Rome). Though we are not certain how it developed, by 350 A.D. the 40-day fast that we now have was already in vogue in most places. Today Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday (Sundays are excluded to preserve the number 40).

For Christians living in the Fourth Century Lent had two major emphases: (1) It was seen as a time of repentance and denial of self. All Christians were to examine their lives according to the Ten Commandments and other Christian ethical precepts and repent where necessary. They were to remember what it cost their Savior to save them. (2) It was a time of instruction and preparation for the elect. I.E., catechumens who wanted to become members of the Christian Church. During Lent they learned the Christian doctrine by studying the Creed. They were led step by step through prayer and special rites toward baptism. If they "passed" they were baptized and received the Lord's Supper in a joyous service either on Easter Eve (the Easter Vigil) or Easter itself.

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