A Season observed as a time of penance in preparation for the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Easter).
Lent is the season, which lasts 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Day. We usually think of it as 40 days but the 6 Sundays are actually feast days! Lent was traditionally the time when people prepared for Baptism on Easter Day. The word Lent is taken from an old English word meaning to lengthen.
We look to Scripture as a source of understanding, about reflection, penitence, temptation and death.
'And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days' - Mark 1, 9-15
'If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me' - Mark 8, 3-18
'And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil' - John 3, 14-21
These readings help create the basis of our theology and liturgy for Lent.
Lent is a time when we take out the element of Celebration. Hence we sing the Kyrie instead of the Gloria. The hymns are often more solemn and reflect suffering, penitence and the cost of discipleship.
The colour of purple or dark blue is used as a sign of penitence (as in Lent). The vestments and the hangings reflect this. It acts as a contrast to the white and gold symbolising light, which we use at Easter.
Flowers are not used in Lent. Again we use them at times for Celebration.
Images are removed or covered up to symbolise the lead up to the death of Christ in a world full of darkness. This contrast with what follows in the celebration of Easter.
Images of the journey to the Cross remind us of the death of Christ in history and in those who suffer today.