Skip to content LENT 2023 – 40 DAYS PERIOD OF CATHOLIC FASTING, PRAYER & ABSTINENCE
Ash Wednesday, Begin Lenten Preparation for the Easter Triduum, Not a Holy Day of Obligation, Day of Fast (Ages 18-59) and Abstinence from Meat (Age 14 and Up)
⇒ Click here to read the Catholic Daily Mass Reading for today!
What should you do during Lent?
Lent is a 40-day period from Ash Wednesday and before Easter. It is marked by praying, fasting, abstinence, and other acts of penance.
⇒ During this time, a fast in terms of abstinence from food, is defined by one meal a day, and two smaller meals which if added together would not exceed one full meal.
⇒ Abstinence is defined as refraining from eating meat. Meat is considered to be the flesh and organs of mammals and fowl.
⇒ Days of abstinence include Ash Wednesday, All Fridays of Lent, and Good Friday.
⇒ Catholics from age 14 upwards are mandated to participate. However, the sick are excused from fasting.
⇒ Fasting, prayer, and almsgiving are essential to Lent.
- Please be generous to Catholic charities. Try to go out without luxuries during the 40 days. Save them for Easter.
- Remember that Sundays are not included in the 40 days, and Solemnities and Feasts are also not fasting days.
- Read a spiritual book day-by-day during Lent.
- Read a passage from one of the Gospel each day. Click Here to read the daily Mass Reading
- Recite the Rosary every day.
- Come to Mass during the Week, not just on Sundays.
- Make the Stations of the Cross.
- Make a daily visit to the Blessed Sacrament.
- Come to the extra services and devotions provided.
- Make an effort to do something extra (and good).
- Above all, ask God for the help you need to make a good Confession before Easter.
⇒ Click here to read the Catholic Daily Mass Reading for today!
