Lent

Lent is now in full swing. Many of us typically think of Lent as a season to prepare for Easter, and there is truth in that. But did you know: Lent was originally something different. If you look back at the ancient Church, Lent is actually about the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). 

The forty days of prayer and fasting were originally meant for the catechumens (those about to be baptized), to prepare them for the sacraments at the Easter Vigil. This is why the practices of the Rite of Election, the Scrutinies and so forth are done during Lent. We the faithful accompany them through these final days of preparation with our own prayer and fasting. 

A few centuries later, it also became the period of penance for those seeking to re-enter the Church. Little known fact: the original practice of Confession was that it could only be done once during one’s lifetime (many thanks to the Irish for changing that to a more frequent and repeatable practice). The forty days of penance were to atone for one’s past sins and prepare for making their confession and being absolved of their sins. There is even a story of one of the later Roman emperors, who was Christian, having to do forty days of penance for having committed some major sin so that he could receive Holy Communion again. Similar to the OCIA, our own practices of penance were to support these people as well.

Lent is a season of preparation, but for us, it is more importantly a season of accompaniment. This year, we at Annunciation have 13 people coming into the Church! Half are catechumens (those to be baptized) and half are candidates (those already baptized but in need of the other sacraments). At the same time, there are countless catechumens throughout the Church preparing to be baptized at the Easter Vigil. We can accompany both groups, as well as those beginning their journey for next year, through our prayers and fasts. May we lift them up to God and accompany them all as they grow ever closer to Christ!