Why and How we Celebrate Lent Why We Celebrate Lent Lent is a sacred season in the Christian tradition, observed as a time of repentance, reflection, and spiritual growth. It lasts for 40 days (excluding Sundays) and commemorates the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). The purpose of Lent is to draw closer to God through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, preparing our hearts for Easter, when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. How We Celebrate Lent 1. Prayer – Deepening Our Relationship with God Christians dedicate more time to personal and communal prayer. Many attend special Lenten services, such as the Stations of the Cross or daily Mass. Reading Scripture, meditating, or using devotional books enhances spiritual focus. 2. Fasting – Practicing Self-Discipline Abstaining from meat on Fridays is a common practice: Many choose to give up something (e.g., sweets, social media, or unnecessary spending) as an act of sacrifice. 3. Almsgiving – Acts of Charity Lent is a time to focus on helping the poor and needy through donations or service. Practicing kindness, patience, and generosity is also encouraged. Key Days in Lent Ash Wednesday – The start of Lent, marked by the imposition of ashes as a sign of repentance. Palm Sunday – The beginning of Holy Week, commemorating Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Holy Thursday – Remembrance of the Last Supper and Jesus' act of humility in washing the disciples' feet. Good Friday – The day of Jesus' crucifixion, observed with fasting and solemn prayer. Easter Sunday – The joyful celebration of Christ’s resurrection, marking the end of Lent. Lent is a journey of spiritual renewal, leading believers to Easter with hearts prepared to embrace the hope of Christ’s resurrection. photograph: Unsplash
Happy St Patrick’s Day St. Patrick is most commonly associated with Irish Christianity and the Roman Catholic Church, but his legacy also aligns with certain beliefs within the Church of England and broader Anglican tradition. St. Patrick and His Influence on Christianity St. Patrick (5th century) was a missionary to Ireland and is credited with spreading Christianity there. He is known for using the shamrock to explain the concept of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), a core belief shared by Anglicanism. His teachings emphasised conversion, baptism, and a deep reliance on scripture, which resonates with both Catholic and Protestant traditions. How St. Patrick’s Teachings Connect with the Church of England Biblical Focus: The Church of England values scripture as central to faith, much like St. Patrick, who relied on the Bible in his missionary work. Trinitarian Theology: St. Patrick’s emphasis on the Trinity aligns with Anglican doctrine, which upholds the Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds. Missionary Spirit: Patrick's evangelical work mirrors the Church of England's historical focus on spreading Christianity worldwide. Celtic Spirituality: The Anglican tradition has, at times, drawn from the rich heritage of Celtic Christianity, which values nature, monasticism, and deep prayer (elements associated with Patrick). Connection to Early British Christianity: Patrick’s time was before the major schism between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. His faith was rooted in the wider Christian tradition that influenced both the Church of England and the broader Anglican Communion.Photograph: unsplash
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The Journey of Lent … A Story of the SoulThe wind whispers through the wilderness, forty days and forty nights. A lone figure walks, fasting, praying, tempted, yet unshaken.This is the path of Lent — A road of surrender, a season of preparation. The days stretch onward like the desert sands calling the heart to silence; the soul to search. What must we release? What must we embrace? In hunger, we acknowledge our dependence. In stillness, we hear the whisper of God.The journey presses forward— past the palms waving, the shouts of “Hosanna!” toward an upper room, where bread is broken, where love bends low to wash another’s feet.Then, the night thickens. A garden, a kiss, a betrayal. A cross rises on a barren hill. The world weeps as Love is crucified.But Lent does not end in sorrow. It lingers in waiting, in the hush of Holy Saturday, until dawn breaks, and the stone is rolled away. Until sorrow is swallowed by light. Until death is undone by the Risen One.Lent is the story of us all— wandering, repenting, returning. It is a season of emptying, that we may be filled anew. Come, let us walk this road together, And draw closer through prayer and reflection.
