In collaboration with the Office of Campus Ministry, the following questions and answers regarding the season of Lent have been developed.

Why are we marked with ashes on Ash Wednesday?

In Biblical days, people wore sackcloth and sat in ashes as a sign of penance. Today, we receive ashes on Ash Wednesday to mark the repentance that is part of our Lenten preparation. When we receive the blessed ashes on our forehead, we hear the words, “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel,” or “Remember that you are dust and unto dust you shall return.” These two phrases each offer us insight into our relationship with God. Ashes remind us that we are sinners and that we must orient our lives away from our sins and toward God. They can also remind us that without an ongoing relationship with God, our physical bodies lack true life. Without the life-giving breath of the Holy Spirit, we are simply dust.

Where do the ashes come from?

The ashes we receive on our foreheads come from burning the palms used for the previous year’s Palm Sunday.

Why are the priest’s vestments purple during Lent?

Purple reminds us that Lent is a time of serious commitment to penance and prayerful reflection. It was also a color worn by kings during ancient times, and it makes sense that the color we associate with Lent would be one that reminds us to turn our lives back to Jesus, the King of kings.

Why does Lent last for 40 days?

The Bible uses symbolism in many different ways to get particular points across. The number 40 is a great example – it’s used repeatedly to mark times of transformation, purification, testing or repentance. The great flood that kept Noah and his family afloat lasted for 40 days and 40 nights. After fleeing Egypt, the Israelites wandered for 40 years in the desert before they entered the Promised Land. Jesus spent 40 days and 40 nights in the desert preparing for his public ministry. These 40-day or 40-year periods included times of great trials and difficulties, times of searching, reflections and action. We are also called to reflect on our faith, to search our hearts and to change our ways during our 40 days of Lent.

Why do we say there are 40 days of Lent when, according to the calendar, there are more than 40 days?

Lent seems longer than 40 days, but it actually isn’t. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends the evening of Holy Thursday. We don’t count Sundays as days of Lent, because we celebrate Christ’s Resurrection every Sunday at Mass – that makes Sundays like mini-Easters! If you count the days starting with Ash Wednesday, skipping Sundays, and ending on Holy Thursday, Lent is technically 38 days, but if you add in the "paschal fast" on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, you arrive at 40 days of fasting before Easter (read more here.)

Why do we “give something up” during Lent?

Lent is a time to be renewed in spirit. The discipline we practice through “giving things up” helps us to control our desires and to grow in our longing for all that is true, good and beautiful. Voluntary self-denial helps us think of God; it also helps us think of others, too. How? Let’s say you give up candy during Lent. By doing so, you save your money. Rather than keeping your money for yourself, you can give it to charity. Instead of giving something up, some people choose to do something extra, for example, like pray a Rosary or help a neighbor in need.

Why do Catholics give up meat on Fridays of Lent?

Why can’t adults eat between meals on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday?

This is another special sacrifice that Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are asked to make. It’s called fasting. It means that on these days, Catholics can eat one full meal, plus two light meals that together don’t equal a meal, and they can’t eat snacks in between.

What are the Church's recommended regulations regarding fasting and abstinence from meat?

Fasting means limiting one's self to one full meal and two smaller meals each day, with no snacking in between meals. The Church asks everyone between the ages of 18-59 to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Catholics are asked to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all the Fridays of Lent; this regulation applies to everyone aged 14 and older.

I keep hearing about prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Why are these things a big deal during Lent?

Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are considered the “big three” of Lenten practices. Together, they become the complete package – reminding us to focus on our relationship with God (prayer), our need for transformation (fasting) and our connection to others, especially the poor and vulnerable (almsgiving). These practices remind us to keep a balance in the way we treat Lent as a preparation time. We can tailor our approach to each toward whatever will challenge and help us the most, since, for example, we each find different forms of prayer most compelling. However, we ought to consider choosing practices from all three rather than, say, only focusing on what we will give up or abstain from during Lent. Additionally, the “big three” can be adapted to a wide variety of ages and ability levels.

Why don’t we sing or say “alleluia” during Lent?

The word alleluia or “hallelu-yah” is of Hebrew origin, meaning “praise God.” It is associated with joy and festivity. We “put away” all alleluias during Lent as we reflect on the last days of Jesus’ life and his crucifixion and death. During the Easter season, we sing and pray many alleluias as we celebrate our new life in Christ, our Savior and Lord.