Lent!

Already tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. Where has the time gone? It seems like Christmas just ended. In previous years, my home Archdiocese of Seattle published “Lenten Regulations” to remind us what is expected of every Christian during Lent.

In recent years, however, they have taken a different approach. Instead, we have a web page called “Lent: Pilgrims of Hope“, which I heartily recommend to you.

The Fasting and Abstinence Guidelines have been compiled into an easy infographic, which is super handy. The site also features some great weekly reflections and other resources. Check it out!

In the interest of completeness, I’m posting an additional infographic under the official one.

The Lenten regulations have varied greatly over the centuries. Sometimes they have been stricter, and sometimes more lax. For folks who might wish to go a little deeper into the older observances for Lent, I offer this chart from 1953.

I would also like to recommend for your reading Pope Saint Paul VI’s Apostolic Constitution Pænitemini, on fast and abstinence.

What are your Lenten observances this year?