Lent Resources
Lenten Resources
Here you can learn about the faith filled tradition that is Lent. Find resources to help make your Lenten season meaningful in a way that deepens your understanding of & relationship with God. If you have any questions or are looking for more resources reach out to Eddie Ventura (edv1@landaiztc.com).
WHAT IS LENT?
The Tradition of Lent
Many, mostly Christians, around the world, take time to celebrate 40 days of the religious season we call Lent. In the Roman Catholic tradition, Lent is a reminder of and journey to our Baptism. Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and continues for 40 days (excluding Sundays), ending with the celebration of Easter.
Easter is the climax of Christian belief: the suffering, death, and ultimately the resurrection of Christ Jesus. The 40 days before Easter are to prepare our hearts for the resurrection in which we too arise in Christ, highlighted in the Sacrament of Baptism. Without these 40 days, Easter becomes another “bump in the road.” We can never lose sight of the resurrection of Christ during Lent. At the same time, we never lose sight of the suffering and death of Christ during Easter.
Lent is a time of repentance: reflection and renewal. We are invited to be evermore intentional in our time and take the opportunity to pray, reflect, self-examine, and discern where and who God is calling us to be.
Lent is traditionally celebrated with three practices: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Each of these three practices, and any other practices we may partake in during the season, encourages us to deepen our understanding of and relationship with the human condition and God.
As we journey through this Lenten season in community, how is your Lenten commitment going to lead to "Be Transformed by Faith?”
Prayer
Prayer is easily described as the form in which we communicate with the Divine. For some, having a prayer routine during Lent looks like setting some special time for “formal prayers” that directly invoke God and oftentimes have a set way of being prayed. Others find unique ways to pray which are meaningful to their form of communicating with God. Either form of prayer can be done in private or in community. Scripture inspires us, however we choose to pray, to pray from the depths of our hearts with great intention and from a place of vulnerability (Mark 6: 5–8). Our Lasallian tradition reminds us that God is present everywhere AND in all those we encounter.
Fasting
During the Lenten season, many focus only on giving up something like sweets, social media, or something that makes them comfortable. Yet, the goal and intention of fasting is to give up something that has taken prominence in your life that is not fruitful to your relationship with God. Lent is a start to a fast that is ongoing because it causes us to have a change of heart and connects us deeper to God. As Lasallians, if you remember the living presence of God in all those we encounter, what would you give up?
Almsgiving
In the practice of almsgiving, many either give money to charity or volunteer their time at soup kitchens. Scripture challenges us to give of ourselves. A challenge that is not easy for any one person to do. We also hear in the Gospel that when we give alms, we should not be boastful. In the act of giving alms, we are in service to the poor. Our Lasallian tradition was founded on service to the poor and those on the peripheries of society. Lasallian service has us walking WITH those we encounter on the peripheries, never forgetting their dignity, and giving them the respect they deserve as humans and children of God. Above all, we are to celebrate our differences and learn the greatness of God through creation.
CAMPUS RESOURCES
Lenten Prayer Service
Join us April 16 for an evening of communal prayer, private prayer, and the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. – In collaboration with Intervarsity – (MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON).
CONTACT FOR MORE
Eddie Ventura –– Asst. Director, Liturgy and Faith Formation (edv1@landaiztc.com)