What is "Lent," and how to find grace though it? From the pages of Our Sunday Visitor's 2004 Catholic Almanac, we learn: "The penitential season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which occurs between Feb. 4 and Mar. 11, depending on the date of Easter, and lasts until the Mass of the Lords Supper (Holy Thursday). It has six Sundays. The sixth Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week and is known as Passion (formerly called Palm) Sunday. "The origin of Lenten observances dates back to the fourth century or earlier." In addition, the Almanac explains the Easter season: "The Easter Triduum begins with evening Mass of the Lords Supper and ends with Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday. " The Easter season, whose theme is resurrection from sin to the life of grace, lasts for 50 days, from Easter to Pentecost. Easter, the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox, occurs between Mar. 22 and Apr. 25. The terminal phase of the Easter season, between the solemnities of the Ascension of the Lord and Pentecost, stresses anticipation of the coming and action of the Holy Spirit." As Catholics honor the crucified and risen Savior through liturgy and worship, our prayer is that, through the penitential time of Lent, we can find the grace we need to cast off sin, and rejoice in the light of Easter. On this Lenten site, Our Sunday Visitor has gathered ideas, information, and resources to help make Lent more reverent, more meaningful, and more prayerful. On this web site, you can:
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Stations of the Cross from the USCCB Read Scripture (The Resurrection) Pope John Paul II's This Week of Salvation by James Monti Download children's activities (PDF) Try This! from Grace In Action Order from www.osvbooks.com
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