Click here to read Pope Francis' message for Lent 2018 - in English and French.
Pope Francis’ 2018 Lenten Message, Because of the increase of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold” (Mt 24:12), reminds us that: “Lent summons us, and enables us, to come back to the Lord wholeheartedly and in every aspect of our life.” In the letter Pope Francis examines, “how it happens that charity can turn cold within us”. In this Lenten Message, Pope Francis calls us to:
To read the 2015 Time Magazine story called, "Pope Francis' Guide to Lent: What You Should Give Up This Year" please click here.
photo © Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk
For the first time since 1945, the season of Lent will begin on Feb. 14, the Memorial Day of St. Valentine of Rome. During Lent, Catholics are obliged to fast (only one full meal) and practice abstinence (no meat) on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (March 30). Abstinence is required on the other Lenten Fridays. Lent is a liturgical season during which we prepare ourselves to celebrate the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ by drawing closer to him through good works, repentance, prayer and fasting.
Ash Wednesday is a day of penance, fasting and abstinence for Catholics. For the Church, the Feast of Saint Valentine is an optional memorial day marking the life of the 3rd-century Roman saint. In this rare instance when both events are on the same date, Ash Wednesday must take precedence. Therefore, some families and Catholic schools are choosing to celebrate "Valentine's" a day early this year. (Even though children under 16 are not required to fast, flashy cards and chocolate treats are not in keeping with the season of Lent.)
This year, Easter Sunday will be on April 1, 2018.
Click below for the following resources and links all about the season of Lent:
Click here to navigate to our Day of Confessions sub-page.