Annie's "Lent" Page
~Lent begins on Ash Wednesday so it is March 9th, 2011~

Actually "LENT" the holiday by name is not mentioned in the Bible. But there are 5 Bible verses with LENT in
them. Of course there is one Bible verse in the King James Version that does mention "
Easter". Acts 12:4
"And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of
soldiers to keep him; intending after
Easter to bring him forth to the people."

There actually are still many different opinions about the use of the word "Easter" in the KJV translation.
You can read more about it at the links below:

The New Testament Greek Lexicon says pascha - Easter
Nave's Topical Bible -
Easter (a.v.)
Easton's Bible Dictionary -
Easter
King James Dictionary -
Easter
Smith's Bible Dictionary -
Easter

~The information that you will find below is quoted from The World Book Encyclopedia~

Lent
"Lent is a religious season observed in the spring by most Christians.  It serves as a time of spiritual discipline
and renewal in preparation for
Easter.  Many churches hold special worship services during the season.
  Besides attending these services, Christians observe Lent with fasting, prayer, and self-sacrifice.
  Some Christians do charity work.

    Lent begins on Ash Wednesday in many churches.  In the Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches,
Lent begins on a Monday, which is sometimes called Pure Monday or Clean Monday.  The Lenten season lasts
about 40 days, excluding Sundays in Western churches, and excluding Saturdays and Sundays in Eastern
churches.  The number 40 recalls Jesus' 40-day fast in the wilderness, as described in the Gospels.
  Most churches reserve special observance of Jesus' Passion (suffering and death) for
the last week of Lent, called Holy Week.   

The word Lent comes from words meaning spring and long and probably refers to the lengthening of days
as spring approaches.  Lent probably grew out of the early Christian church's practice of baptizing people
at the Easter vigil (watch), a service held on the eve of Easter.  During the vigil, the church also accepted
repentant Christians back into the faith.  In the weeks before Easter, candidates for baptism fasted
and received religious instruction.  By the A.D. 900's, Lent had become a time of penance and preparation
for Easter for all Christians.  The observance of Lent was set at 40 days in the A.D. 600's.

   
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter and marks the beginning of Holy Week in the Christian calendar.
Palm Sunday worship recalls when people spread palms and clothing in front of Jesus as He entered Jerusalem.
This happened several days before He was crucified. Palm Sunday marks a turn in Christian churches'
observance of Lent from a time of discipline and sorrow for one's sins to one of looking ahead to the
Passion (suffering and death) of Jesus and His Resurrection.

By the late 300's, Christians in Jerusalem were celebrating Palm Sunday on the first day of Holy Week. It was
part of a trend there to remember the last events of Jesus' life by holding services at sacred sites in the city.
Today, Christians in many traditions observe Palm Sunday with the blessing and distribution of palms.
Usually, the ceremony includes a procession.

The beginning of Lent
The beginning of Lent. In Western churches, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. Many churches, especially Roman
Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran, hold special services on this day. This service often includes the blessing of
ashes on the foreheads of worshipers, and words based on Genesis 3: 19, "for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt
thou return." The ceremony reminds participants that they should begin their Lenten penance in a humble spirit.

In the Eastern Orthodox Churches, members attend an evening service on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. This
Sunday is sometimes called Forgiveness Sunday because at the end of the service worshipers ask the priest and
one another for forgiveness for their sins. Lent officially begins in the Eastern Orthodox
Churches on the next day, called Pure Monday.
~All the above information is from The World Book Encyclopedia~

What is Holy Week?
Holy Week is the final week of Lent. Some churches hold special services every day of the week. Holy Week
recalls the events leading to Jesus' death and Resurrection. For more information about these events.

Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week. It celebrates the story of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem,
where people spread palm branches and clothing before Him. During Palm Sunday services, many churches
distribute cut palm leaves, sometimes woven into the shape of a cross. Greek Orthodox Christians receive branches
of fragrant bay leaves. The leaves are then used in cooking during the year.

Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday, recalls Jesus' last meal and His arrest and imprisonment. Many
Protestant churches hold Communion services on this day. During Maundy Thursday Mass, Roman Catholic priests
often wash the feet of 12 church members or poor people in remembrance of how Jesus washed the feet of His
12 disciples at the time of the final meal. A priest takes the Host (the wafer of bread regarded as Jesus' body)
from the main altar to a shrine on the side. The shrine symbolizes the place where Jesus was held
prisoner after His arrest. All decorations are removed from the main altar as a symbol of
the stripping of Jesus' garments before the Crucifixion.

Good Friday observes the death of Jesus on the cross. Most churches hold mourning services. Some services last
from noon until 3 p.m. to symbolize the last three hours of darkness while Jesus suffered on the cross. The
Eastern Orthodox Churches follow services with ceremonies recalling how Jesus was taken from the cross and
placed inside a tomb. In many Spanish-speaking countries, Christians hold processions in which people carry
statues of the dying Jesus and His mother, Mary. Many Christians eat little or no food on Good Friday.

Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday is chiefly a day of solemn vigil (watch). The major activity of the day comes at nightfall as
observance of the Resurrection approaches. Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches hold vigil services
that often include the baptism of new members. The vigil service leads up to a dramatic moment. The lights
in each church are put out, leaving everyone in darkness. Then, the priest lights one tall candle, representing
the risen Jesus. The flame from this candle is used to light other candles held by worshipers, which symbolizes
the spreading of Jesus' light throughout the world. In Eastern Orthodox Churches, the ceremony is timed so
that the priest lights his candle exactly at midnight. After all the candles have been lit, the service becomes an
Easter celebration, with joyous music and the reading of the Easter story from the Bible. Traditionally, newly
converted Christians were baptized on this day, after having received religious instruction during Lent.

Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus. Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches hold Saturday
evening services, but most Protestant churches wait until Sunday morning to hold their main Easter services. Many
churches and communities, particularly in the United States, have additional outdoor Easter services at sunrise.
At that time, the light of the rising sun recalls the light that comes back to the world with the newly
risen Jesus. Catholic and Orthodox churches also hold additional services on Easter Sunday, especially
for those who missed the long services of the preceding night. For many Christians, Easter Sunday
is set aside for feasting and celebration."
~All the above information is from The World Book Encyclopedia~

Related Links:
The Catholic Resources On the Internet
Observe Lent from "ehow.com"
The Season of Lent
Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Easter

Related Pages by Annie:
Annie's Easter Welcome Page - has a listing of all my Easter Pages
Annie's Easter Page
Annie's "How to Celebrate Easter" Page
Annie's "Scripture Cake" Page
Annie's "Easter Story Eggs" Page
Annie's "Easter Just for Kids" Page
Annie's Twelfth Night Page
Annie's Palm Sunday Page
Annie's Good Friday Page
Annie's Ash Wednesday Page

Send a Lent Email Card to a Friend.

Lent begins
March 9th, 2011 and continues on until Easter!

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