What is Lent? On Wednesday, February 18, 2026, the season of Lent begins. Lent signifies a forty-day period of prayer, fasting and penance in preparation for the Easter celebration and while the etymological root of the word has been lost to time, its meaning has not and the lessons and practices – though quintessentially Catholic – are meaningful and valid for all Christians. But what precisely is Lent? The synoptic Gospels (Matthew 4:1–11, Mark 1:12–13 and Luke 4:1–13) tell the story of how Jesus was led into the desert for forty days to be tempted by the devil, after which He began His public ministry. But why was Jesus tempted at all? Why did he have to endure it? For the same reason He did everything else. To show us the way! Some may ask “if we cannot earn our way to heaven, or merit our salvation through works, then what good is prayer, fasting and penance?” Like the image we see in the mirror, prayer, fasting and penance are the reflection of our faith[1].… Read More »What is Lent?