Lent is a solemn period of preparation that lasts for 40 days, not counting Sundays, and is traditionally marked by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, leading up to Easter Sunday, the celebration of Jesus Christ’s resurrection. It is a time of testing and spiritual growth for Jesus, mirroring the opportunity for Catholics to grow closer to God. Lent is also a time for inner transformation. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, signified by the receiving of ashes as a reminder of mortality and the need for repentance. The final week of Lent is known as Holy Week, which leads up to Easter Sunday.
During Lent, there is an increased focus on Prayer and attending church services, especially the Stations of the Cross. Reading scripture and personal reection are
encouraged. entails sacrifice Fasting and self-discipline. Many Catholics observe fasting and abstinence during Lent. Traditionally, Catholics abstain from meat on all
Fridays of the year, and some choose to give up something they enjoy for Lent. This act of sacrifice is meant to symbolise Jesus’ fasting, temptation and sacrifice on the cross. Lent is a time for increased generosity towards those in need through almsgiving.
Catholics are encouraged to donate to charities, volunteer their time, or perform acts of kindness.
Lent in 2025 holds a special signicance within the designated Jubilee Year focusing on the «Pilgrims of Hope”. This theme beautifully sets the tone for the Lenten season.
This Jubilee Year’s theme emphasises the concept of a journey – a pilgrimage towards a brighter future filled with hope. Lent, with its introspective practices, becomes a perfect opportunity to embark on this hopeful pilgrimage. By embracing the spirit of «Pilgrims of Hope,» let us embark on a journey of personal growth and contribute to a world filled with greater hope.
WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY
ASH WEDNESDAY
SAINT BERNADETTE SOUBIROUS, VIRGIN
Psalter IV | VIOLET
Born in Lourdes, France, the eldest of nine children from a poverty-stricken family. She experienced 18 visions of the Virgin Mary at the Massabielle Grotto in Lourdes. These visions led to the founding of the Marian shrine of Lourdes. Mary revealed her identity as “the Immaculate Conception” and instructed Bernadette to build a chapel.
Entrance Antiphon: Wis 11:24, 25, 27
You are merciful to all, O Lord, and despise nothing that you have made. You overlook people’s sins, to bring them to repentance, and you spare them, for you are the Lord our God.
Collect
Grant, O Lord, that we may begin with holy fasting this campaign of Christian service, so that, as we take up battle against spiritual evils, we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Joel 2:12-18
Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment. Perhaps he will again relent and leave behind him a blessing, Offerings and libations for the Lord, your God. Blow the trumpet in Zion! proclaim a fast, call an assembly; Gather the people, notify the congregation; Assemble the elders, gather the children and the infants at the breast; Let the bridegroom quit his room and the bride her chamber. Between the porch and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep, And say, “Spare, O Lord, your people, and make not your heritage a reproach, with the nations ruling over them! Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?”” Then the Lord was stirred to concern for his land and took pity on his people.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 and 17
R/ Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
- Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.
- For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always: “Against you only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.”
- A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
- Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me.
- [sic] O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Second reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2
Brothers and sisters: We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says: In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Saint Biography
Born in Lourdes, France, the eldest of nine children from a poverty-stricken family. She experienced 18 visions of the Virgin Mary at the Massabielle Grotto in Lourdes. These visions led to the founding of the Marian shrine of Lourdes. Mary revealed her identity as “the Immaculate Conception” and instructed Bernadette to build a chapel.
Gospel Acclamation: Psalm 95:8
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”
Prayer over the Offerings
As we solemnly offer the annual sacrifice for the beginning of Lent, we entreat you, O Lord, that, through works of penance and charity, we may turn away from harmful pleasures and, cleansed from our sins, may become worthy to celebrate devoutly the Passion of your Son. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 1:2-3
He who ponders the law of the Lord day and night will yield fruit in due season.
Prayer after Communion
May the Sacrament we have received sustain us, O Lord, that our Lenten fast may be pleasing to you and be for us a healing remedy. Through Christ our Lord.
Prayer over the People
Pour out a spirit of compunction, O God, on those who bow before your majesty, and by your mercy may they merit the rewards you promise to those who do penance. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“Let your hearts be broken, not your garments torn.” Lent is a season of intense spiritual revival. It is a period during which we focus intently on the reality of sin; we remember that we are sinners and because of our sins Jesus died on the cross. For this reason, we resolve to reconcile ourselves with God, as St. Paul exhorts us to do in the Second Reading, and the Church proposes charity, prayer and fasting as three tools for this reconciliation. But Jesus makes it clear in the Gospel that these practices will bear no fruit if they are mere outward acts that do not transform our hearts. We should perform works of charity out of a sincere desire to think less about ourselves and make sacrifices for others. Our prayer should be a true dialogue with God in which we listen to him and ask him for his sanctifying grace. Our fasting should be a real effort to subdue our desires and control our passions, in order to fight against sin. In short, Lent is a time when we make an extra effort at true conversion. May this 40 day period bring about a genuine change in our relationship with God and our neighbour.