Lent 2015

Psalm 139:23-24

Search me, God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday which falls on 18 February, 2015 marks the beginning of Lent, and it ends a day before Easter (Resurrection of Jesus Christ) on Holy Saturday, 4 April, 2015. Lent is a solemn observance in the liturgical year of many Christian denominations. During the season of Lent, Christians prepare for the celebration of Easter by prayer, penance and fasting. There are actually 46 days from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday consisting of 40 weekdays and 6 Sundays, Lent is actually 40 days minus the 6 Sundays which is a day celebration of Jesus' victory over sin and death by His resurrection from the death (fast and penance is forbidden or optional Sundays).

Ash Wednesday, 18 February, 2015

First Sunday in Lent, 22 February, 2015

Second Sunday in Lent, 1 March, 2015

Third Sunday in Lent, 8 March, 2015

Fourth Sunday in Lent, 15 March, 2015

Fifth Sunday in Lent, 22 March, 2015

- Holy Week begins -

Palm (Passion) Sunday, 29 March, 2015

Maundy (Holy) Thursday, 2 April, 2015

Good Friday, 3 April, 2015

Holy Saturday (Easter Vigil), 4 April, 2015

- Holy Week ends -

Easter Sunday, 5 April, 2015

In 2015, the Message of Pope Francis for Lent is "Make your hearts firm (cf. Jas 5:8)". Based on the theme of the globalization of indifference, the Holy Father expresses his hope "that all those places where the Church is present, especially our parishes and our communities, may become islands of mercy in the midst of the sea of indifference!"

A Lenten Prayer called the Passion

Dear Lord Jesus, 

by Your Passion and Resurrection

You brought life to the world.

But the glory of the Resurrection

came only after the sufferings of the Passion.

You laid down Your life willingly

and gave up everything for us.

Your body was broken and fastened to a Cross,

Your clothing became the prize of soldiers,

your blood ebbed slowly but surely away,

and Your Mother was entrusted to the beloved disciple.

Stretched out on the Cross,

deprived of all earthly possessions and human aid, 

You cried out to Your Father that the end had come.

You had accomplished the work given You, 

and You committed into His hands, 

as a perfect gift, 

the little life that remained to You.

Lord, teach me to accept all afflictions

after the example You have given.

Let me place my death in Yours 

and my weakness in Your abandonment,

Take hold of me with Your love,

that same foolish love that knew no limits,

and let me offer myself to the Father 

with You so that I may rise with You to eternal life.

AMEN.