Christian Fasts: Lent (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Religious Studies): Revision Note

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

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