Today, February 17, 2010, is the beginning of the Lenten Season, which is celebrated as part of the recognized feasts of Church Calendar by the Orthodox, many Reformed churches, the Roman Catholic Church, etc.
Indeed, it was an ancient practice of the Universal Church even before its division.
Some Christians do not observe Lent in any form, and that is fine … it is not mandatory or prescribed by Scripture and should be done according to one’s conscience.
I thought it might be interesting to take a look at what Lent is, so I amalgamated some info regarding it from some of the more interesting sources I could find on the Web. I didn’t have time to write something up myself, but I thought it important to reflect upon this time of REFLECTION, charity, fasting and repentance… but most of all, of appreciation of what the Savior has done for us in His sacrifice at Calvary!!
May you be blessed by this gathering of some of the information available re: Lent.
Peace of Christ be yours this Lenten season ☺
Jeff
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Lent is a time of soul-searching and repentance in preparation for the celebration of Christ’s death and resurrection on Good Friday and Easter. In the Western Church, Lent consists of the 40 days before Easter, not counting Sundays. The first day of Lent is Ash Wednesday.
Lent begins on 17 February 2010 and ends on 3 April 2010, which is the day before Easter. (Western churches)
In the Roman Catholic Church, Lent officially ends at sundown on 1 April (Holy Thursday), with the beginning of the mass of the Lord’s Supper.
The English word lent derives from the Germanic root for Spring (specifically Old English lencten; also the Anglo-Saxon name for March – lenct – as the main part of Lent, before Easter, usually occurred in March). Formerly Lent was referred to by the term quadragesima (or the “fortieth day” before Easter).
Colors:
In most churches, the decorations are purple, the royal color, to prepare for the King.
Some historical info related to the Lenten season:
The History of Lent
The earliest reference to a period of fasting and prayer before Easter is in the writings of the 2nd c. church father Irenaus of Lyons (c.130-c.200), who wrote of a period lasting only two or three days. Apparently at that time there was a variety of practices, with some fasting for one day while others fasted for two. But the interesting thing is that it seems that there was a widespread practice of fasting before Easter. He also argues that the practice already has a long history, so it is possible that it goes back to the 1st century.
A few years later, Tertullian also makes reference to a period of fasting before Easter.
The first mention of the ancient term for Lent, tessarakoste, occurs in the fifth canon of the Council of Nicea (325 AD). A few years earlier in 311, Athanasius wrote to his flock that they should practice a period of 40 days of fasting prior to the stricter fast of the Holy Week (the week before Easter). In 339 he wrote another letter urging the people of Alexandria to observe 40 days of fasting as a custom that was universally practiced “to the end that while all the world is fasting, we who are in Egypt should not become a laughing-stock as the only people who do not fast but take our pleasure in those days.”
Some of the various customs surrounding Lent:
During Lent Christians are to contemplate their sinfulness, repent, ask God's forgiveness, and realize the infinite sacrifice God made on their behalf. It is to be a time of quiet contemplation, but not a time of despair, since it culminates in the commemoration of the resurrection.
Traditionally, those who are joining the church spend this period in special instruction regarding Christian doctrine, practice, and responsibility. Historically, prospective members ("catechumens") did not participate in the Lord's Supper portion of the Sunday services until they were received into full membership on the Sunday of the Resurrection of Our Lord. For them, this first experience of Ash Wednesday and Lent has special significance as God's eternal plan of salvation is applied to them personally.
The final week of Lent is called Holy Week. It begins the day after
Palm Sunday, which memorializes Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matt. 21:1-11). Holy Week commemorates the events immediately preceding the crucifixion. This is the most solemn time during the church year. Many churches conduct services nightly.
Maundy Thursday honors the memory of the final Passover Jesus celebrated as His Last Supper with His disciples.
Maundy Thursday gets its name from a Latin church anthem, the first line of which reads, "Mandatum novum do vobis," or "a new commandment I give to you" (John 13:34). The Latin "Mandatum" is corrupted to the English "Maundy." Holy Thursday is called "Green Thursday" in Germany, after the green branch given by pastors to penitents on this day to signify that God has heard their prayers and will give them new life. It is called "Sheer Thursday" in some countries to signify that it is by the body and blood of Christ that we are made "clean" or "sheer" from our sins. This is the traditional day for a thorough cleaning of the church altar and everything associated with it. Most churches celebrate communion on Maundy Thursday. Some re-enact Jesus' washing the feet of the disciples.
Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion and death of Christ.
Many churches conduct quiet services from noon until three (called Tre Ore, or "Three Hours"), focusing on the events of the crucifixion and the words of Christ from the cross. In some churches (most notably the Eastern Orthodox), the altar itself and the encased representation of Christ's burial, called the epitaphion, are covered in black cloth. (Often the Eastern Orthodox churches do this on Holy Thursday instead.) Many Good Friday services conclude with draping the altar cross with black cloth, extinguishing all sanctuary lights (except the eternal flame signifying the Holy Spirit), ceasing all music, and having the congregation exit without speaking to symbolize the imminent (commemoration of the) death of Christ. Some churches refrain from communion until Resurrection Sunday, others don't.
As early as the second century A.D., Christians commonly celebrated each Friday in commemoration of the crucifixion, with fasting or other penance as its most notable feature.
Interesting event regarding Lent in the earliest Reformed churches (
get hotdogs ready before you read this LOL):
In 1522 during Lent a big sausage-eating event was organized. The people's priest from Zurich Ulrich Zwingli defended the sausage-meal thus: The law of fasting is a human law and therefore not necessarily valid. The simple defiant act of eating meat during the prescribed fast threw the city into an uproar.
(too funny!) 
I hope you enjoyed this
May the Lenten season bring us closer to Christ 
