Lent is here.
Our second Lent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For me, it's been a very blessed Lent -- I dare to say, my "favorite" Lent thus far.
First of all, let's look at the the word Lent and the equivalent thereof in German.
Fasching (German word) = Carnival = Mardi Gras = Fat Tuesday
Our first year living in Austria, we very quickly learned what Fasching is -- and how it is a very big deal! EVERYONE (children and adults) dress up on Faschingsdienstag (Carnival Tuesday, aka, Fat Tuesday). The adults drink and eat Krapfen. (Yes, Brian and I did partake in this tradition this year!) The kids dress up at school, similar to how children dress up for Halloween, and eat Krapfen at school. Krapfen are donuts filled with jam and topped with powered sugar!
Fastenzeit (German word) = Fasting Time = Lent
In Austria, Catholics refer to Lent as Fastenzeit - as it is the 40 days that we fast before Easter. It begins the day after Fat Tuesday, on Ash Wednesday. And the period ends the night before Easter Sunday, on the Easter Vigil.
In the USA, we refer to this same time period as Lent. It's the first year that I actually realized what Lent means in English.
Wow! The idea that Lent means spring in English, really hit me. Outside, I could see that the Spring season wants to emerge. As Lent began, the ground was covered in snow. It then "went away" and Spring came -- we put away the sleds, got out the bikes. Put away the snow pants and got out the Spring jackets. Jackets weren't even needed somedays - it was so nice out! Flowers began to bloom! Then... more snow came. Lots more snow. The flowers were covered. We had to get back out the snow pants and sleds! That snow too, eventually melted, and the flowers re-emerged.
This Lent amidst the pandemic has been a fruitful one. I have felt and seen the Lord pruning and purifying my own heart and the hearts of those closest to me. My own mother had her heart cut open, literally! (She had open heart surgery to replace a heart valve and ended up with a valve enlargement as well). Though painful at times, God is good. I have felt His Love and Mercy this Lent, and I am looking forward to a beautiful Easter filled with peace and rejoicing!
May the Lord bless all of you this Lent!
Faschingsfreitag (the Friday before Ash Wednesday - the Kindergarten kids celebrate at school):
Faschingsdienstag (Fat Tuesday - the kids all dressed up for school -- last minute Isaac decided to go as a dragon, not pictured here):
Snow during Lent (view from our backyard):
Rain and rainbows during Lent (view from our front yard):
Our kids got to remove a "thorn" from Jesus' crown if they did a good deed or made a sacrifice; their chore money was donated to Mary's Meals:
Clare did not give up her daredevil ways for Lent:
But she did request extra time to go to the church (which she calls Alleluia... which is not allowed in Lent!) to pray:
Signs of Spring - regular trips up the street to see the horses:
Flowers blooming:
Then, more snow:
Lent is here!
The full article from the Catholic Culture website, which I quoted above:
The Springtime of Lent: Action and New Life
The liturgical season of Lent coincides with spring, calling to mind the new life and growth, the hope and change that should characterize this time of prayer, penance and conversion. This is the season of initiation into the grace-life of the Church. For 40 days, the Church invites us to start afresh.
…Just as Nature renews herself every spring, so during the Church’s spring we are encouraged to begin anew with the catechumens. We prepare for the renewal of our baptism, we suffer with Christ for our sins, we are buried with Him so that we may also arise with Him to a new life of grace and glory. (Therese Mueller, Our Children’s Year of Grace)
The word Lent is derived from an Anglo-Saxon word lengthen or lencten meaning "spring." We are "to spring" into action, to do the tasks of the season, to prepare for the new growth and graces that overflow from Easter. Spring is the most important season for a farmer, for it determines what crops he will plant. Once decided, he prepares the soil thoroughly and plants the seed carefully, hoping that the seed buried deep in the soil will produce an abundant crop.
On Palm Sunday, the very threshold of his death and Resurrection, Our Lord assured his followers that “unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat. But if it dies, it produces much fruit. The man who loves his life loses it, while the man who hates his life in this world preserves it to life eternal. If anyone would serve me, let him follow me; where I am, there will my servant be.” (Jn 12: 24-26) Let us renew our Baptism during this Lenten spring, joyfully dying to self in order to become that fruitful grain of wheat.
Activity Source: Original Text (JGM & MG) by Jennifer Gregory Miller and Margaret Gregory
Happy Easter!
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