lent

lent
/lent/, v.
pt. and pp. of lend.

* * *

In the Christian church, a period of penitential preparation for Easter, observed since apostolic times.

Western churches once provided for a 40-day fast (excluding Sundays), in imitation of Jesus' fasting in the wilderness; one meal a day was allowed in the evening, and meat, fish, eggs, and butter were forbidden. These rules have gradually been relaxed, and only Ash Wednesday
the first day of Lent in Western Christianity, when the penitent traditionally have their foreheads marked with ashes
and Good Friday are now kept as Lenten fast days. Rules of fasting are stricter in the Eastern churches.

* * *

 in the Christian church, a period of penitential preparation for Easter. In Western churches it begins on Ash Wednesday, 61/2 weeks before Easter, and provides for a 40-day fast (fasting) (Sundays are excluded), in imitation of Jesus Christ's (Jesus Christ) fasting in the wilderness. In Eastern churches Lent begins on the Monday of the seventh week before Easter and ends on the Friday that is 9 days before Easter. This 40-day “Great Lent” includes Saturdays and Sundays as relaxed fast days.

      Since apostolic times a period of preparation and fasting has been observed before the Easter festival. It was a time of preparation of candidates for baptism and a time of penance for sinners. In the early centuries fasting rules were strict, as they still are in Eastern churches. One meal a day was allowed in the evening, and meat, fish, eggs, and butter were forbidden. The Eastern church also restricts the use of wine, oil, and dairy products. In the West these fasting rules have gradually been relaxed. The strict law of fasting among Roman Catholics was dispensed during World War II, and only Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are now kept as Lenten fast days. However, the emphasis on penitential practice remains.

      In the Anglican churches The Book of Common Prayer prescribes that Lent be observed with fasting. In Lutheran and many other Protestant churches Lent is observed with various services and practices.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • lent — lent, lente [ lɑ̃, lɑ̃t ] adj. • 1080; lat. lentus 1 ♦ Qui manque de rapidité, met plus, trop de temps. La tortue, animal lent. Véhicules lents. Il est lent, lent dans tout ce qu il fait. ⇒ lambin, 1. mou, traînard. « la vieille nourrice si lente …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • lent — lent, ente (lan, lan t ) adj. 1°   Proprement, souple, flexible, sens qui est un latinisme rarement usité et seulement en poésie. À moins qu avec adresse un de ses pieds lié Sous un cuir souple et lent ne demeure plié, A. CHÉN., Idylles, Fille du …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • Lent — • An article on the origins of Lenten fasting Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Lent     Lent     † …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • lent — LENT, [l]ente. adj. Tardif, qui n est pas viste, qui se remuë, qui agit avec peu de promptitude. L asne est un animal lent & pesant. le mouvement de Saturne est plus lent que celuy des autres planetes. que cet homme est lent! il est si lent en… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Lent — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Familie: Wilhelm Johann Heinrich Lent (1792–1868), deutscher (Berliner) Jurist und Präsident des Oberlandesgerichts Hamm Alfred Lent (1836–1915), deutscher (Berliner) Architekt sowie Eisenbahnbaumeister… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • lent — LENT, Ă, lenţi, te, adj. Încet, domol. – Din fr. lent, lat. lentus. Trimis de LauraGellner, 19.05.2004. Sursa: DEX 98  Lent ≠ brusc, iute, rapid, repede Trimis de siveco, 03.08.2004. Sursa: Antonime  LENT adj., adv. 1 …   Dicționar Român

  • lent|en — or lent|en «LEHN tuhn», adjective. 1. of Lent; during Lent; suitable for Lent. 2. such as may be used in Lent; meager; plain; dismal or somber. ╂[Old English lencten; see etym. under Lent (Cf. ↑Lent)] …   Useful english dictionary

  • Lent|en — or lent|en «LEHN tuhn», adjective. 1. of Lent; during Lent; suitable for Lent. 2. such as may be used in Lent; meager; plain; dismal or somber. ╂[Old English lencten; see etym. under Lent (Cf. ↑Lent)] …   Useful english dictionary

  • Lent — /lent/, n. (in the Christian religion) an annual season of fasting and penitence in preparation for Easter, beginning on Ash Wednesday and lasting 40 weekdays to Easter, observed by Roman Catholic, Anglican, and certain other churches. [bef.… …   Universalium

  • Lent — Lent, n. [OE. lente, lenten, leynte, AS. lengten, lencten, spring, lent, akin to D. lente, OHG. lenzin, langiz, G. lenz, and perh. fr. AS. lang long, E. long, because at this season of the year the days lengthen.] (Eccl.) A fast of forty days,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”