The meaning of repentance during Lent

Lent is a time to start pondering ways to repent coming up to Easter

Next week, Lent begins so it is time to start pondering ways to repent coming up to Easter. Sacrificing luxuries is a common way of repenting during Lent. While indulging in luxuries isnít exactly sinful, the reason we sacrifice them is to remind ourselves that it is Godís love we depend on and that is all we need. This is the significance of Lent but there are other ways of repenting too. Indulgence is only recommended as long as it is in positive qualities such as attending weekly Confession and reciting additional prayers, practicing patience and compassion. By the time Lent is over and Easter is here you will feel much better about yourself if you have practiced good qualities. Fasting on luxuries and indulging on positive traits is much more rewarding than giving up sweets or chocolate for 40 days.

Repenting

Repenting throughout Lent begins with fasting on Ash Wednesday. Fasting has always been important in our faith. It was while ìworshipping the Lord and fastingî that the Holy Spirit led the Apostles to set apart Paul and Barnabas for their work (Act 13) There is a deep spiritual value to fasting as its true meaning is repentance.

Mortality and humanity

The ashes we receive on this day are the burned palms from the previous Palm Sunday. These are blessed and combined with holy water, and marked on our forehead with the sign of the cross. The ashes serve two purposes. First, they remind us of our mortality and humanity as we begin the Lenten Fast. And secondly, ashes are a biblical symbol of repentance, sorrow, and humility.

Lenten promises can be hard to stick to but reciting this prayer will help you:

Lord, please show me what I should give up for Lent

And when Iíve given it up

Remind me to pray to you instead

To thank you

To love you

To hear from you

Each and every day in Lent

Amen.

For Ash Wednesday recite:

"Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness."