What is Lent?
Lent is a liturgical season that focuses on the three spiritual pillars of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. This 40-day journey is a time for sacrifice, repentance and spiritual reflection preparing us for the commemoration of the Passion and Death of Christ and the joyful celebration of his Resurrection on Easter Sunday.
When does Lent Begin and End?
Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on March 5, 2025, and ends on sundown of Holy Thursday, April 17, 2025.
How to Practice Lent
As Catholics, the spiritual pillars of prayer, fasting and almsgiving guide us in daily reflection on our own lives as we strive to deepen our relationship with God and neighbor—no matter where in the world that neighbor may live. Lent is a time of personal and spiritual growth, a time to look outward and inward. Especially during this time, the Church encourages us to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Through prayer, God invites us to slow down in the silence and look for him around us—in nature and in people who need us most. Our fasting is an act of penance and solidarity with people who are hungry—and it helps us feel a small part of what they are living day by day. It is in this spirit that our almsgiving is an act of love for God and neighbor.
One simple way to enhance your Lenten experience is to participate in the CRS Rice Bowl program. During Lent, Catholic families across the United States use a rice bowl—a small cardboard box—to collect alms. Each rice bowl also comes with a calendar that guides families through the 40 days of Lent with activities, reflections, recipes and stories.
How to Fast for Lent
The Catechism invites Catholics ages 18 to 59 to abstain from meat and to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and Catholics 14 years and older to abstain from meat on the Fridays during Lent. Preparing meatless meals—like the ones we collect from countries around the world—is a great Lenten activity for families, offering an experience of global solidarity. In addition to meatless Fridays, Catholics are also invited to offer daily sacrifices. By giving up little things—like coffee or candy—we make room for God to act in our lives in new ways, and we have the opportunity to give the money we save to our sisters and brothers most in need.
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