Christian Fasts: Lent (Cambridge International IGCSE Religious Studies)

Jesus’s time in the wilderness

• Lent is inspired by the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness, as described in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke
• During this time, Jesus fasted and prayed, preparing for his public ministry
• He was tempted three times by the devil, but he stayed faithful to God
• This event shows Jesus’s spiritual strength, obedience and trust in God
• It teaches Christians the importance of self-discipline, resistance to temptation and spiritual focus

blockquote “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them, he was hungry.” (Luke 4:1–2)

Lent & fasting

• Lent lasts for 40 days (not counting Sundays), beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending on Holy Saturday

• Lent is a time for spiritual renewal and personal sacrifice

• Traditionally, Christians give up luxuries or fast during Lent, imitating Jesus’s fasting in the wilderness

• This may involve:

  • Giving up certain foods (such as meat, sweets or caffeine)
  • Donating money to charity
  • Giving up bad habits or distractions (such as social media)

• Traditionally, there are three main disciplines during Lent:

  • Prayer
  • Fasting
  • Almsgiving(giving to charity)

How is Lent marked in church?

• The beginning of Lent is Ash Wednesday

• On Ash Wednesday, many Christians attend church services to begin their preparations for Holy Week and Easter at the end of Lent

• At these services, a priest puts ash on the forehead of believers in the shape of a cross

  • This is a sign that they are sorry for their sins
  • It is also a sign of faith and of following Jesus
  • It is a reminder of their mortality — the priest will place the ashes onto the person with the words: “Remember that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return”

• The ash is made from burning the palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday

• Churches mark Lent by dressing the altar in purple cloth

  • The priest or minister will also wear purple, a colour symbolising sorrow and repentance

• Because Lent is a period of prayer and preparation for Easter, many churches will hold extra prayer services during the period

• These services and events during Lent may include:

  • Stations of the Cross
  • Bible study courses
  • Times for silent prayer and reflection

• The focus of all of these prayer services and events is repentance for sins and reconciliation

• The final week of Lent is Holy Week, marked in church by special services on:

  • Palm Sunday
  • Maundy Thursday
  • Good Friday
  • Holy Saturday

Religious reasons for observing Lent

• Christians observe Lent:

  • To imitate Jesus’s example of prayer, fasting and resisting temptation in the wilderness
  • To prepare spiritually to celebrate Jesus’s resurrection at Easter
  • To reflect on sin **and **seek reconciliation with God
  • To renew their personal faith and commitment to God
  • To participate in acts of charity and** prayer** in response to Jesus’s teaching and example

Social significance of observing Lent

• Lent brings people together in a shared purpose
• The focus on almsgiving means that many churches and communities run charity campaigns or fundraisers during Lent (e.g. Christian Aid, CAFOD)
• Fasting encourages a spirit of gratitude and makes people mindful about what they consume and may take for granted
• Lent helps people to develop habits of discipline, generosity and self-awareness
• In schools and youth groups, Lent lunches, sponsored fasts and community events may be used to teach moral values and encourage service to others

Different ways of observing Lent

• There are different ways of observing Lent according to the church denomination

• Catholic and Anglican churches consider Ash Wednesday and Holy Week to be very important, and services are always held to mark these events

  • Additionally, there are several extra services and prayer opportunities throughout Lent

• Protestant Christians may not observe Lent, and services will vary from church to church

  • They will mark the same season of preparation for Easter, which may be more focused on private prayer, reflection and Bible study
  • Some may fast or make changes to their lifestyle and priorities at these times, which is down to individual choice

• Orthodox churches observe Lent at the same time as other Christians, but it is called Great Lent and starts with Clean Monday

  • Great Lent is a time of prayer, fasting and drawing closer to God
  • The tradition of fasting for Orthodox Christians is **stricter **than for Catholics and Anglicans
  • Believers follow rules that involve avoiding meat, eggs, dairy and alcohol in order to** focus their attention** on their relationship with God

Worked Example State two ways that Christians may observe Lent

[2 marks]

Final answer: Answer:

Christians may observe Lent by fasting [1 mark]

They also give time, money or effort to help charities [1 mark]

Exam Hint There are detailed notes about the final week of Lent, Holy Week, earlier in this section. Make sure you revise these two sections together to gain a full picture of how Christians prepare to celebrate Easter.