By Kelley Kepler
Catholic Herald
A look back at the history of Lenten practices
SUPERIOR --AOn Wednesday, March 5, Catholics will have their foreheads marked with ash crosses, a symbol of penance signaling the start of Lent. During the 40 days leading up to Easter, Catholics will also fast and abstain from eating meat on Fridays; some will even give something up for Lent.
In an interview with diocesan Director of Worship, Fr. Gabriel Baltes, OSB, the Catholic Herald sought insights into the history of Lent and a better understanding of why Catholics take part in certain Lenten rituals.
Baltes pointed out that the word Lent means "springtime." Weather permitting, people view spring as a time of growth, a period when new life emerges from the deathlike state of winter. Hence the name, this theme of death and rebirth plays a vital role in the Lenten journey.
In the early centuries, Lent was a time of preparation for those who would be baptized at the Easter vigil, the main time individuals were baptized in those days, Baltes said. He emphasized that the dying and rising aspect is central in the ritual of baptism because, "In baptism, we die and rise with Jesus."
According to Baltes, the early Lenten season only lasted two or three days, and those who would be baptized fasted in order to purify their bodies of sin. Gradually the time period expanded, depending on the time and place, and by the fourth century the church had established its current 40 day Lenten season.
The number 40 has biblical significance, Baltes added. In the story of Noah's ark, it rained for 40 days and 40 nights. Moses journeyed with the Israelites for a period of 40 days in the desert. Jesus later spent 40 days in the desert where he resisted sin.
Around the fifth century, when the practice of infant baptism became more the norm, "Lent evolved as a period of penance for public sinners and for those who wanted readmittance to the church," Baltes said. The most notorious public sins of the time were murder, adultery and apostasy -- the sin of denying the faith.
Eventually Lent emerged as a season for the whole church to engage in penance in preparation for Easter, said Baltes.
On Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, Catholic foreheads around the globe will be marked with an ashes. Baltes said the symbol of ashes dates back to ancient times when they were sprinkled on persons engaging in penance.
In attempt follow Christ's model and live better lives, Catholics have three traditional disciplines when it comes to Lent: fasting, almsgiving and prayer.
Perhaps fasting is the first of these traditions that comes to mind when one thinks of Lent. The big question is why. Why fast or abstain from meat during Lent?
Baltes said there is no one answer to this question, but rather, a number theories.
Since ancient times, different cultures have used fasting as a way to prepare for ritual. "Fasting is a way to heighten the senses because being hungry can make one more alert," Baltes said. When people ate nothing the two or three days leading up to Easter, chances are they would be very alert during the Easter celebration.
Baltes said fasting is needed to prepare for a feast. "There's not a feast without a fast," he said. "You can't truly appreciate something until you give it up."
In addition, it may have been essential for people to fast at certain times of the year, Baltes speculated. "Food supplies were low after the winter, and fasting may have been a way to ration the food supplies so that people would survive until the harvest," he said.
Baltes said fasting is also seen as a means of purifying the body so as to gain control over desires and passions.
The church views fasting as a way to "deepen our appreciation of Christian values," by "reflecting on our lives, expressing sorrow for our sins and showing solidarity with the poor and hungry," he said.
It is also important to note that fasting has been defined differently over time. In the past, it meant not eating at all. Now the Catholic practice is to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, meaning that people are only allowed one full meatless meal (and possibly two smaller meatless meals, depending on one's needs) each day.
The practice of abstaining from meat on Fridays may have grown out of respect for the day Jesus was sacrificed. We remember his death by not eating flesh on Fridays, Baltes said.
Fasting regulations and norms have also differed over time. According to "The Essential Lenten Handbook," compiled by Fr. Thomas M. Santa, CSsR, and published in 2000 by Liguori Publications, one of the most traditional Lenten practices was that of not eating any eggs or milk during Lent. The money not spent on dairy products was collected and donated to the church. The tradition of giving Easter eggs grew out of this practice because "that which was prohibited was given as a gift to celebrate the end of the season," Santa wrote.
Baltes views the practice of giving Easter eggs as "a symbol of the death and rebirth of Easter." He said, "The chicken coming out if its egg -- it's tomb -- symbolizes new life."
After the Second Vatican Council, fasting regulations became less strict, putting more responsibility on individuals rather than mandating them.
Thus, the idea of fasting has been extended into other things. Today it's common for people to give up things like sweets, TV or video games for Lent.
The second Lenten discipline, almsgiving, easily follows from the practice of fasting. By eating simply, Catholics are better able to relate to the poor. The are also able to save the money they would have spent on food and donate it to the less fortunate. In addition to money, people also donate their time and service as they reach out to the needy in their communities.
The last discipline is prayer, and that occurs in many different ways throughout Lent. The Stations of the Cross is one of the most common Lenten prayers. On Palm Sunday, religious education students at St. Albert Parish, Land O'Lakes, will dress in costume and portray each Station of the Cross. This is a way for the children to get actively involved in prayer and better understand the life and passions of Jesus.
According to Baltes, Catholics should engage in fasting, almsgiving and prayer year round. However, these practices tend to be intensified during Lent, a time when people examine the role of sin in their lives, engage in penance for their sins and refocus their efforts to grow spiritually and return to Christ.
Lastly, Baltes mentioned that over recent years, the baptismal element has been restored to Lent as the RCIA is celebrated in parishes.
© Superior Catholic Herald, 2003