40 Days and 40 Nights

The season of Lent is upon us.  Since I have more time down here than I've ever had in the states, I sometimes tend to question things or think about things more.  So naturally, with the beginning of Lent, I thought, historically, what is all behind the season of Lent.  Was it originally more than just a waiting and preparing time for the death of Jesus or were there other things done during this time?  Therefore, prepare yourself for a little history lesson.

The word Lent comes from two different Anglo-Saxon words that mean "spring" and "March".  There has always been some form of Lenten preparation before Easter, it has just varied by how many days and/or hours.  It sounds as though there was some confusion as to whether it was supposed to be 40 hours or 40 days....something lost in translation (don't I know the feeling sometime, haha).  So, by the end of the 4th century is has been decided that Lent is a time of prayer and fasting in preparation for the death and rising of Jesus that would last 40 days.  However, 40 days has been translated into many things over the years as well.  Depending on where you lived, determined how much fasting you did.  Some fasted for 40 days but only Monday through Friday; therefore, Lent lasted for 8 weeks.  Others fasted for 40 days but fasted on Saturday as well and therefore Lent only lasted 6 weeks.  So a consensus was reached; fasting would take place Monday-Saturday for 6 weeks and with the addition of Ash Wednesday as the beginning of Lent, there were 40 days of fasting before Easter.  The next big question was what do we fast from?  In some areas they fasting from any meat and animal products while others made exceptions for things like fish.  Over time, it was decided that fish would be allowed and fasting only had to take place on Ash Wednesday and Fridays.  The part about fasting from animal products was also dropped so people could have dairy and what have you.  the interesting thing though is that Easter eggs first started to be blessed because of the fact that dairy/animal products were not allowed during Lent.  Now that everything is sorted out, the way practices stand today is this:  Fasting occurs on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, abstaining from meat happens on Fridays.  People give up something during lent as a sacrifice and often are encouraged to perform a spiritual work.  According to the site I read, technically Sundays and solemnities (Feast of St. Joseph and Annunciation) aren't included and therefore you can have whatever you gave up.  (http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0527.html) However, you might as well just tough it out; Jesus wasn't given any days off, so why should we take a day off?

As we begin this time of preparation for the death and rising of our Lord, think about how you are preparing yourself during this time.  What sacrifices can you make?  What spiritual practices have you strayed away from or sloughed off on lately that could be picked back up?  Are you ready for judgment day if it were to come today or tomorrow?  I encourage you to join me in thinking about these things and preparing yourself for judgment day just as Jesus did during his 40 days and 40 nights in the desert.  We never know when our time will come.

Happy Lent!