Quadragesima–is Latin for “Fortieth” and represents Lent, the 40-day period leading up to Easter—observed by more than a dozen Christian denominations. The season commemorates the 40 days Jesus endured Satan’s temptations while in the wilderness. Three of the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke describe this encounter. The Liturgical calendar of these denominations observe Lent in various ways of conformance, practice a variety of Spiritual Disciplines.
A typical practice is that of fasting; even ways of fasting vary. A mild, but not the most extreme sacrifice, is fasting, giving up food; pausing one’s favorite excess, such as chocolate, coffee, desert, etc. I grew up in a small rural Methodist church—the only seasons of the Christian year we observed were Christmas and Easter. I learned about Lent in high school; a fellow Methodist from the town church observed Lent by fasting, sacrificing her favorite indulgence, chewing gum. Yes, it WAS a sacrifice for her!
But I digress. The season of Lent, throughout Christianity, presents a plethora of opportunities for observing of the season. Lent always begins on Ash Wednesday, 40 days before Easter—date of which is determined by “the first Sunday after the full Moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox.” The math gets complicated: six days are added to the 40, because in the liturgical calendar, Sundays are not counted—they are Holy Days.
Now we get to the fun part. (if you’re not already having fun!) Before Ash Wednesday, comes Shrove Tuesday, sometimes called “Fat Tuesday”—Mardi Gras, French, for Fat Tuesday. Its meaning has to do with ending eating rich foods before entering Lent with its focus on fasting. Shrove has to do with confession and absolution in preparation, mainly, for the spiritual discipline of fasting. Another term for Fat Tuesday, is Pancake Day—Pancakes were a natural—for that helped empty the cabinets of flour, sugar, and, I guess, syrup—to avoid the temptation of breaking fast. (Pancake houses commandeered the day through calling for a National Pancake Day),
Mardi Gras carnaval is celebrated the world over. Traditions, activities, and the focus of Mardi Gras vary from country to country—and from community to community. Some are closer to the original meaning than others. New Orleans is most likely the most flamboyant celebration in the United States.
The strong spiritual component begins on Ash Wednesday. Here in Atlanta it is common to see, at any time of the day, people with the black smudge of a cross on their forehead. The ashes are the reminder that from dust we were created, and to dust we will return. Some churches have early morning Mass, or other worship services; others spread throughout the day. Where there is a cross in the sanctuary, it is draped with a purple drape, signifying a time of penance.
As for the spiritual discipline of fasting, fhe Gospel of Matthew, goes into detail about Jesus’ fasting in the desert; he successfully deals with all the temptations of Satan. Matthew devotes a third of chapter 4 to the ordeal. The Gospel of Luke, devotes 13 detailed verses to the dialogue between Jesus and Satan; there, too, Jesus stands firm, due to his 40 day gauntlet. The Gospel of Mark, in its classic brevity, devotes two verses to Jesus’ desert trials. In every Gospel account it is clear that the time Jesus spent fasting in the desert, gave him the spiritual strength to overcome the power of Satan. It is no wonder that fasting takes front and center for the spiritual disciplines of the season of Lent.
©Copyright Willis H. Moore 2023
Thank You, Willis, for always helping me to have a clearer understanding of the messages in the Bible!