Subtracting the six Sundays that occur during Lent from the total number of forty-six days left the season with exactly forty days.
During the seventh or eighth century Christian authorities in western Europe gradually began to add four more days to Lent, making the total number of days forty-six. Some Christian thinkers argued, however, that Sundays could not be included in the Lenten fast, since all Sundays celebrate the resurrection of Christ and therefore should not be observed as days of penance ( for more on penance, see also Repentance). Jesus himself fasted in the desert for forty days before beginning his ministry (Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13). The length of this season, approximately forty days, was modeled on the forty days of hardship endured by a number of important biblical figures before experiencing God's deliverance ( see also Salvation). Begun on this date, Lent lasted forty-two days. Until the seventh or eighth century western European Christians began Lent on Quadragesima Sunday, the sixth Sunday before Easter. The first full day of Lent falls on the following day, Clean Monday. Orthodox Christians begin Lent on the evening of the seventh Sunday before Easter, which they call Forgiveness Sunday. Western Christians, that is, Roman Catholics and Protestants, follow a different church calendar than that adhered to by Orthodox and other Eastern Christians ( see also Easter, Date of). It falls on the Wednesday following the seventh Sunday before Easter - sometime between February 4 and March 10. Look for him at the community notice board in front of the municipal hall.Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent for Western Christians. Services on Ash WednesdayĨ:30-10 am - Ashes on the Avenue: Canon Craig will be present on Oak Bay Avenue to offer the imposition of ashes on this threshold day of the church year. In our Ash Wednesday worship services we will combine prayers both ancient and modern, senses of taste, touch, sight and sound, as we seek in this season a fresh gateway to reconciliation-a healing of relationship with neighbour, family and within ourselves. However, it also became a time for all members of the church to reflect once again on the attitudes of the heart that motivate our actions towards ourselves and our neighbour. Originally this practice was aimed primarily for new candidates for baptism, which was a sign of entrance into the church community. This season lasted 40 days, in imitation of Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness before his active ministry began. Since ancient times, the Christian community has observed a time of self-reflection in preparation for the celebration of Easter.
Join us for a variety of reflective opportunities, with the imposition of ashes, on the first day of Lent, the season of self-reflection and penitence preceding the joyous celebration of Easter.
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