An Introduction To Lent

The history of Lent reveals traditions rich with meaning. Lent deepened the experience of early Christian community as new believers were baptized and as the events of Christ's death and resurrection were celebrated. In the liturgical rites of most churches, there is a pastoral exhortation to the people at the beginning of the Ash Wednesday liturgy that expresses well the focus of Lent. One such elocution is the following from the Book of Common Prayer (1979) of the Episcopal Church: Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time for those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful and were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of…