Lent, the solemn season of reflection, repentance, and preparation, holds profound significance for us Catholics. Rooted in the liturgical calendar, Lent spans forty days, symbolizing Jesus' forty days of fasting and prayer in the wilderness. As we journey through Lent, we are invited to deepen our faith, embrace spiritual disciplines, and renew our commitment to our Lord Jesus. Let us now explore the importance of observing Lent and how it should be observed.

Purpose of the Lenten Season

Lent is a sacred season that calls us to enter into the desert of our hearts, confronting sin, and seeking spiritual transformation. It is a time of purification,  reconciliation, and renewal, leading up to the celebration of Easter—the pinnacle of the Christian faith. Through fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, we are invited to journey with Jesus, embracing his suffering and sacrifice on the cross. 

Significance of Lenten Practices

Proper observance of Lent involves three essential practices: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. These disciplines are not meant to be burdensome obligations but pathways to  spiritual growth and intimacy with God.

1. Prayer: Prayer lies at the heart of the Lenten journey, providing a vital connection to the Divine. Through prayer, we cultivate a deeper relationship with God, seeking his guidance, grace, and mercy. During Lent, we are encouraged to dedicate more time to personal prayer, attending daily Mass, participating in devotional practices such as the Stations of the Cross, and engaging in spiritual reading and reflection.

2. Fasting: Fasting is a symbolic gesture of self-denial and penance, echoing Jesus' forty days of fasting in the wilderness. By abstaining from certain foods or luxuries,
we emulate Christ's sacrificial love and discipline. Fasting helps us to detach from worldly comforts, allowing for a deeper focus on spiritual matters. It is also a reminder of our dependence on God and the importance of living a life of moderation and temperance. 

3. Almsgiving: Almsgiving, or acts of charity and generosity, is another integral aspect of Lenten observance. By sharing our resources with those in need, we emulate Christ's compassion and selflessness. Almsgiving encompasses not only material gifts but also acts of kindness, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Through acts of charity, we bear witness to the love of Christ and participate in building God's kingdom of justice and mercy.

Observance of Lent

Proper observance of Lent requires a deliberate approach. We are called to enter into the season with humility, sincerity, and openness to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Here are some practical ways to observe Lent seriously: 

1. Set Spiritual Goals: Take time to discern specific spiritual goals for the Lenten season. Whether it is deepening our prayer life, overcoming a particular vice, or   cultivating a spirit of compassion, setting clear objectives can help focus our efforts and foster spiritual growth. 

2. Create a Lenten Plan: Develop a structured plan for how you will observe Lent, incorporating prayer, fasting, and almsgiving into your daily life. Consider attending weekday Masses, participating in parish Lenten retreat and incorporating daily scripture reading and meditation into our routine.

3. Embrace the Sacrament of Reconciliation: The Sacrament of Reconciliation, or confession, is a central aspect of Lenten preparation. Take advantage of this sacramental opportunity to examine your conscience, seek forgiveness for sin, and experience the healing grace of God's mercy. 

4. Engage in Acts of Service: Look for opportunities to serve others and practice acts of charity and compassion throughout Lent. Volunteer at parish functions, reach out to
the elderly or lonely or participate in community service projects that benefit those in need. 

5. Cultivate a Spirit of Gratitude: Throughout Lent, cultivate a spirit of gratitude for the many blessings in your life. Take time each day to thank God for his love, mercy, and other blessings, and strive to live with a heart filled with gratitude and praise. 

Sacred Journey of Faith: For us Catholics, the observance of Lent is not merely a religious obligation but a sacred journey of faith, transformation, and renewal. By embracing the disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we open our hearts to God's grace and prepare ourselves to celebrate the joy of Easter—the triumph of life over death, light over darkness, and hope over despair. May this Lenten season be a time of profound spiritual growth, deepening intimacy with God, and renewal of faith for all of us. Let us pray for each other so that we will all grow together spiritually during this Lenten Season. 

-- Rev. Josh Panthaplamthottiyil, Pastor, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church

Think of Lent as a spiritual adventure. It’s a season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. We symbolically follow the time Jesus spent in the desert before his public ministry. Why the desert? It’s a dry, barren place without distraction where we can see our need for and reliance on God. This period of preparation readies us to celebrate the Lord’s resurrection at Easter. When thinking about Lent, ask yourself, “What type of person do I want to be at Easter?” and “How can I use Lent to be that person?”

Lent is a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It's a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter. During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; we serve by giving alms; and we practice self-control through fasting. We are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully. We recall the waters of baptism in which we were also baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ.

Many know of the tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent, but we are also called to practice self-discipline and fast in other ways throughout the season. Contemplate the meaning and origins of the Lenten fasting tradition in this reflection. In addition, the giving of alms is one way to share God's gifts—not only through the distribution of money, but through the sharing of our time and talents. As St. John Chrysostom reminds us: "Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive them of life. The goods we possess are not ours, but theirs." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2446).

In Lent, the baptized are called to renew their baptismal commitment as others prepare to be baptized through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, a period of learning and discernment for individuals who have declared their desire to become Catholics.

The Church gives us three practices to embrace in Lent:
  
Fasting allows us to make room in our hearts for Jesus, creating space to encounter him. Fasting does not have to be staying away from food; it can be anything that distracts us from God.

• Read about it: Matthew 6:17-21
• Watch a video

 
Prayer is essential to a relationship with God. Add more time for prayer; go to daily Mass, read scripture, sit before the Blessed Sacrament, pray the Stations of the Cross on Fridays at 7 pm in the church, or pray the daily examen (click here to learn more) at the end of your day.

• Read about it: Matthew 6:6
• Watch a video

 
Almsgiving is encountering Christ in the poor by being generous with our time, possessions, and love. It isn’t just about giving money.

• Read about it: Matthew 6:3-4
• Watch a video

Celebrate Ash Wednesday at SEAS, Wednesday, March 5th!  Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving leading up to Easter!

Ashes symbolize mourning and repentance, as seen in Genesis 3:19 ("For dust you are and to dust you will return").  Jesus' call to repentance (Matthew 4:17) and teachings on sincere fasting (Matthew 6:16-18) also shape the day's observances.

During Ash Wednesday services, ashes from the previous year's Palm Sunday palms are placed on foreheads in the shape of a cross, accompanied by the words, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return" or "Repent, and believe in the Gospel."  Catholics also observe fasting and abstinence reflecting Jesus' 40 days of fasting in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11).

Come and join us to celebrate Ash Wednesday at Mother Seton!

Fasting and abstinence are done to honor the suffering and death of Christ and to prepare ourselves to celebrate his resurrection.

Fasting refers to the amount of food consumed as well as the times food is eaten. Abstinence means the avoidance of certain types of food.

These guidelines are from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:

• Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence. 
•  
• Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence for those age 14 and up. Church law specifies abstaining from eating meat, such as poultry, beef, lamb or pork, as an act of penitence. 
• Fasting is obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal. Two smaller meals (that all together are not equal to a full meal) are permitted as necessary to maintain strength according to personal needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted.

In all cases, common sense should prevail, and people who are ill should not further jeopardize their health by fasting. Those that are excused from fast and abstinence (outside the age limits) include the physically or mentally ill, individuals suffering from a chronic illness, and pregnant or nursing women. Those with compromised health that would be adversely affected by fasting or abstinence should not consider themselves bound by these norms. 

Click here for some meatless recipes from Catholic Relief Services!

The Lenten Fish Fry is each Friday during Lent from 5-7 pm in Seton Hall!  All are invited!

The Stations of the Cross, also known as the Way of the Cross or Via Crucis, commemorate Jesus's passion and death on the cross. There are 14 stations that each depict a moment on his journey to Calvary, usually through sacred art, prayers, and reflections. The practice began as pious pilgrims traced his path through Jerusalem on the Via Dolorosa. 

Later, for the many who wanted to pass along the same route, but could not make the trip to Jerusalem, a practice developed that eventually took the form of the fourteen stations currently found in almost every church throughout the world.

Join us for Stations of the Cross in the church every Friday during Lent at 7 pm!

What is adoration?

Adoration is adoring and honoring the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The Blessed Sacrament is held within a holder called a monstrance. During this time with Jesus, you can recite your favorite prayers, read the bible, pray a rosary or other types of prayerful devotions. You can talk to God or sit in total stillness. All are invited for as much time as you wish to spend.

In the  Holy of Holies:
Monday-Thursday, 7 am to 4 pm
Saturday, 7 am to 4 pm
 
In the Church:
Fridays, 9 am to 9 pm

FORMED is excited to present curated content to help the Church journey through this Lenten season. In this collection are resources to help the faithful deepen their understanding of various Lenten days, practices, and devotions. You can find resources on prayer, the mystery of Christ's Passion, the roots of Holy Week found in Judaism, and many things to help guide the faithful through the holiest days in our liturgical year—the Triduum. We pray that all of these resources draw us deeper into the mystery of Lent, Holy Week, and the Triduum as we look forward to the joy of the Resurrection.
 

FORMED is available to ALL of our parishioners for FREE!  Learn how to create your account by clicking here!

Click on this link to view all of FORMED's Lenten resources!

St Elizabeth Ann Seton has partnered with Hallow to encourage all parishioners to surrender and trust in the Lord in a new, deeper way throughout Lent. Hallow is a Catholic prayer and meditation app that helps us strengthen our relationship with God through a habit of daily prayer.

This Lent, as a part of the Hallow Pray40 Challenge, we’ll walk through the life-changing, spiritual classic He Leadeth Me, written by Fr. Walter J. Ciszek, S.J. Fr. Walter, a Jesuit priest and missionary, was imprisoned for over twenty years in the Soviet Union, first in solitary confinement and then in a Siberian worker camp. Amidst some of the most brutal conditions imaginable, Fr. Walter underwent a profound spiritual journey. Inspired by Fr. Walter’s writing, we’ll spend time each day prayerfully seeking a refreshed humility and hope in Christ, who laid down His life for us, as we journey through Lent.
  
Hallow is the #1 Catholic app worldwide and includes 1,000 prayer sessions available for free, and over 10,000 audio-guided sessions in an upgraded premium subscription. Hallow is designed to help you grow closer to God and develop a daily habit of prayer, and includes prayers for kids and families, resources for mental health, meditations for sleep, seasonal music, multiple languages (including Spanish, Portuguese, and Polish!) daily trivia, podcast-style courses to learn more about faith, and more! Register today by visiting Hallow.com/pray to get started.