1. Gospel: Mk. 7:1-13
How do you prepare
yourself for the season of
fasting, abstinence and
almsgiving?

2. What is Lent?
Revised Version
Mr. Yares
CLF Class

3. What is Lent?
 Lent is one of the five
liturgical seasons in
the liturgical year.
 During this time the People of
God are called to
commemorate and reflect on
the Lord’s passion through
spiritual preparation,
conversion, and penance.
 This Holy Season is an
invitation to renew our
baptismal call. To live as Sons
and daughters of God and
disciples of Christ, our Lord

4. What is the meaning of the word
Lent?
 Lent is a Germanic word that
basically means spring
season.
 The Latin equivalent is
quadragesima a word meaning
“forty days”.
 Spring is a time of change
and renewal
 The winter is over life begins to
grow again.
 Lent is a spiritual spring, a time
for spiritual growth and
renewal.

5. Did you know?
 Lent is preceded by
the first section of
Ordinary time and
followed by the
season of Easter.

6. When does Lent Begin?
 The season of Lent begins on
Ash Wednesday .
 Did you know?
Catholics are not the only
Christians celebrating Ash
Wednesday.
 Ash Wednesday is celebrated
by other Christian
denominations such as:
Lutherans, Episcopalians,
Anglicans, and Methodists.

7. Did you know?
 On Ash Wednesday one
billion Catholics around the
world go to Church to receive
the Ashes during mass or
outside the mass.
 Catholics then begin the Holy
season of Lent .

8. Why is it called Ash Wednesday?
 Ash Wednesday is so called
because on this day Ashes are
used to mark Catholics on their
foreheads as a sign of
conversion and repentance.
 Did you know?
The ashes used on Ash
Wednesday come from the
blessed palms left over from the
previous year.
 The palms are burnt to produce
the ashes. Ashes are considered
sacramentals and are blessed
before their use.

9. What is the meaning of the Ashes?
 A. The ashes are a symbol of
repentance and conversion .
 B. The ashes act as a reminder
that we are called to die to sin
and return to God
wholeheartedly .
 C. The ashes are a symbol that
reminds us that life is fragile
and that one must be ready to
face our creator.

10. What phrases are used to impose
the ashes?
 During the Ash Wednesday
service two phrases or
formulas are used to impose
(place) the ashes on the
forehead of Catholics.
 These formulas are:
 “Turn away from sin
and be faithful to the
Gospel”.
 “You are dust and
into dust you shall
return.”

11. What is the meaning behind these
phrases?
 These phrases are
invitation to:
 A. Repentance
 B. Reconciliation
 C. Penance
 D. Discipleship

12. How do we prepare spiritually for
Lent?
 A. By letting go of sinful
behavior
 B. By seeking conversion
(interior change )
 C. By practicing
Penance
 D. By following the
teachings of Christ.
(Discipleship)
 E. By practicing the three
pillars of Lent.

13. What is Penance?
 Penance: is making
amends
 Amends = Making up
for what we do wrong .
 Lent is an opportunity to
clean up the inner mess
and fix our lives and our
relationship with God
and neighbor .

14. Gospel: Mt. 6:7-15
How should you pray?
How should you forgive?

15. What are the three pillars of Lent?
 A. Prayer
 B. Fasting
 C. Almsgiving

16. How can we improve our prayer life
during Lent?
 Increase and improve the
quality of your prayer
experience.
 You may do this by dividing
your prayer time in three parts:
A. Morning
B. Afternoon
C. Evening
 Spend 15 to 20 minutes alone,
meditating , talking to God .

17. How can we improve our prayer life
during Lent?
 A. Become familiar with
the life and teachings
of Jesus by reading the
Gospels .
 B. Each day read a
different chapter from
each of the Gospels.
 C. Try to visualized
what is happening.

18. What is Almsgiving?
 Almsgiving is another word for
Charity.
 A. Charity is love in action .
 B. Charity is a way to reach
out to those who are in need .
For example: collecting food
cans for the hungry,
sponsoring a child in a needed
area, supporting your local
diocesan charities.
 C. Almsgiving is a form of self-
denial, sacrifice on behalf of
others.

19. Pope Benedict XVI’s Message for Lent 2008
(excerpt)
 “For this year’s Lenten Message, I wish to spend some time
reflecting on the practice of almsgiving, which represents a specific
way to assist those in need and, at the same time, an exercise in
self-denial to free us from attachment to worldly goods. The force of
attraction to material riches and just how categorical our decision
must be not to make of them an idol, Jesus confirms in a resolute
way: “You cannot serve God and mammon” ( Lk 16,13). Almsgiving
helps us to overcome this constant temptation, teaching us to
respond to our neighbor’s needs and to share with others whatever
we possess through divine goodness.”
 To read the entire message please visit the following link:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/lent/documents/hf
_ben-xvi_mes_20071030_lent-2008_en.html

20. How long is the season of Lent?
 The season of Lent is
forty days long not
counting Sundays.

21. What is the Biblical meaning for the
number forty?
 In the biblical sense forty is a
time of purification and
preparation.
 A. It took forty years for Israel
to get ready and enter the
promised Land.
 B. It took forty days and forty
night for the earth to be
purified from sin in the story of
the flood.
 C. Jesus prayed forty days and
forty nights to prepare for his
public ministry.

22. What is discipleship?
 Discipleship is the
process of learning to be
a disciple .
 The word disciple means
“student” .
 Student is the one who
learns from the master.
 Discipleship is learning to
be like Christ .

23. How do we learn to be like Christ?
 A. Study Christ’s
teachings .
 B. Let Christ’s
teachings affect your
life .
 C. Follow Christ’s
teachings
 D. Witness Christ’s
teachings in your life
and in the world.

24. Reflection from
“The Cost of Discipleship”
 "Christianitywithout discipleship is always
Christianity without Christ. It remains an
abstract idea, a myth which has a place
for the Fatherhood of God, but omits
Christ as the living Son. … There is trust
in God, but no following of Christ."
Dietrich
Bonhoeffer

25. What is the Color of Lent?
 The liturgical color of
Lent is purple.
 Purple is a symbol of
Penance.

26. What story is read the first Sunday
of Lent?
 The story of Jesus
being tempted in the
desert.
 The story is found in
Matthew 4:1-11

27. What are the three universal
temptations?
 A. The temptation for
pleasure regardless of the
consequences.
 B. The temptation for power;
the need to control and
dominate others.
 C. The temptation for
popularity , the need to be
greater than God. Self-idolatry.
 Like Jesus, We must avoid
these trappings in every day
life.

28. Why are Sundays not counted
during Lent?
 Because Sunday is
the day of the
“resurrection” .
 For Christians
every Sunday is
like a mini Easter .

29. What is the climax of the season of
Lent?
 The climax of the season
of Lent is Holy Week.
 Holy Week begins on
Palm Sunday and ends
with the Holy Triddum.
 Triddum means: three
days. These days
are:
 Holy Thursday, Good
Friday, Holy
Saturday.

30. The Community of Faith
 During Lent parishes expand the
opportunities for sacramental
confession. Don’t miss this opportunity.
 Also during Lent many parishes have
penitential services and parish
missions. Make plans to attend.
 Lent is great time for devotion and
personal piety. This is a great
opportunity to pray the stations of the
cross and meditate on the Lord’s
passion.
 Lent is a great opportunity to go on a
retreat. Contact your local diocese and
find out what retreats are taking place
in your diocese. Invite others to come
along.

31. Resources online
 The U.S. Bishops’ conference has great
online resources for this Lenten season.
 Their link is:
http://www.usccb.org/lent/

32. Thomas Merton’s Prayer
MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I
am following your will does not mean that I am actually
doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact
please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right
road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be
lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will
never leave me to face my perils alone.
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33. The end