"Lent begins with the blessing of the ashes and imposes upon Christians to remind them of penance season'-Fr. Walter D'Mello, parish priest, Milagres
Christians are on the threshold of Lent, a forty-day period of introspection, repentance, spiritual spring cleaning and return to God, seen by them around the world. It starts from the Ash Wednesday (March 9 this year) and ends with Easter Sunday (April 24). Lent is observed as a time of fasting in commemoration of Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness before beginning his public ministry of preaching and healing. The forty days of Lent are also a throw back to the Old Testament Exodus, the period of forty years it took Hebrew, God's chosen people, to escape the oppressive slavery of the kings of Egypt, the pharaohs, to reach their promised land of milk and honey.
Ash Wednesday is characterized by the sprinkling of ashes on the heads of the faithful in the churches. While imposing the ashes on the head, the priest says, "Remember, man, that you are dust and to dust you shall return." This has been replaced with the exhortation "turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel (Good News Bible)." This change is a threat of punishment from God for the sinner, to have the confidence and return to the compassionate and merciful God.
During Lent, the trend and tenor of the liturgy of the Church is in a moderate way. The emphasis is on forgiveness and reconciliation as reflected in the special reading of the Gospel at Mass the Sunday before Ash Wednesday (San Lucas-6: 27-38): Jesus told his disciples: "I tell you to hear, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If anyone strikes you on one cheek offer also the other, and whoever takes away your coat do not withhold your coat as well. Give to everyone who asks you, and he who takes away your goods do not ask it again (again). And since men do to you, do it for them. ... Love your enemies and do good and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great ... Judge not and will not be judged, condemn not and will not be condemned, forgive, and was forgiven, give and be given; ... For if it will be the measure again. "
Traditionally, the main aspect of the observation of Lent was fasting. During the early centuries of Christianity, fasting during Lent was limited to a few days a week. The Council of Nicea in 325 AD, the period mentioned in forty days. In the late fourth century, the fast of forty days became common. Besides fasting forty days of Christ in the Old Testament, the prophets Moses and Elijah also had similar fasting. Initially, only one meal without meat and fish was allowed. In the 19th century rules have relaxed fish and eggs.
Another aspect of the devotion of Lent is to make the Way of the Cross involving 14 stations, remembering and reflecting on the journey of Jesus from the time he was captured, beaten, sentenced to death, marched to Golgotha bearing the cross, crucified , dead and buried. This devotion extends from ten minutes to 30 minutes to three hours is Good Friday - three hours of agony after 12 hours - an annual feature in the name of Cathedral of the Sacred (Wodehouse Church) in downtown Mumbai.
For centuries, popular understanding of Lent focused on physical suffering. The Second Vatican Council (1962) shifted the emphasis to the spiritual preparation for Easter and expand the process to include other forms of prayer and penance and the growth of charities. Thus, three aspects of Lent - prayer, fasting and almsgiving - are designed to prepare Christians to celebrate Christ's resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Each diocese (the administrative area under a bishop) mounts its own rules of fasting and abstinence (abstaining from eating meat). The rules require those aged 18 and under 60 years. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting and abstinence. Every Friday of Lent are days of abstinence. The waiver was granted to members of the Armed Forces and those who travel by land, sea or air. Fasting allows one full meal and two lighter. Those unable to fast can compensate by making a series of alternate sacrifices and devotions. Some sacrifices will not include graphics and digital television for Lent.
Ash Wednesday is not a holy day of obligation - is not required to attend the church service. But Christians of all age groups to churches on this day. Among the special prayers recited in church services on Ash Wednesday is as follows: "In this holy time help us to turn our minds and hearts back to you. We have a sincere repentance and renew our lives with grace . Help us to remember that we are sinners, but even more, help us to remember your loving mercy. As we live through this Ash Wednesday may be the cross of ashes that mark our foreheads be a reminder for us and for those who are ( us) that belong to your Son. May our worship, prayer and penance, today is maintained throughout these forty days of Lent. Bring fresh and renewed to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ in the Passover. "
Unlike the proverbial calm before the storm, for Ash Wednesday, which is carnal before the storm calm. In many countries, the last day before Ash Wednesday - called Madri Gras, Mardi Gras and Carnival - has become a last fling before penitence and solemnity of Lent. For centuries it was customary to fast by abstaining from meat during Lent, so some people called the festival of Carnival, which is Latin for "farewell to flesh." There is a strong tradition of Carnival in Hispanic or Latino (Portugal, Spain) and Latin America. In India, Goa has a strong tradition of Carnival. These celebrations begin at the end Sunday before Ash Wednesday and on the eve
There has been strong opposition to the carnival because of their marketing and advertising. A few years ago, had supported the protests against the Church Carnival Panjim, Goa, where fleet led by King Momo take to the streets for three days. Now, the official encouragement from the government in the name of tourism promotion. While many rushed to Goa to join the revelers, television channels, especially FTV, bring the carnival - Carnival in Rio, for example - the drawing room. While the Goa carnival lasts for three days, dominate the Rio carnival FTV transmission until Ash Wednesday and broadcast from time to time throughout the year.
Canara For Christians, Ash Wednesday evokes sad memories. At the site of Mangalore in 1794, Tippu Sultan defeated the British. Tippu suspected of helping indigenous Christian population in the British secret and unleashed a terrible persecution. Having guards that are distributed in the villages where they lived, the soldiers took the Tippu in one night about 60,000 Christians and forcibly deported to Mysore. They were held in captivity on Ash Wednesday on the basis of the cross of ashes on the forehead. His sufferings on the road were intense, and many of them had died or killed on the road, only a portion Shrirangapatnam reached, where the men were circumcised, and several of the fittest selected to serve as soldiers. The rest, women and children, were distributed in the villages of Mysore (kingdom). They remained there until the British defeated Tippu in 1799. The number of those who returned from captivity of 15 years is estimated at only 12,000.
