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In the early centuries of Christian history, Lent provided the final, intensive period for the instruction of new converts for their baptism at Easter. The annual celebration of the death and resurrection of Christ was recognized as the most appropriate time for baptism, for in the baptismal waters one enters into death with Christ and is raised with Christ in his resurrection. The baptized life is to die daily to sin and the old life, and to be raised to live a new life sharing in the new creation.
Lent later came also to include the reconciliation of those who had lapsed from the faith. Easter was the time for them to reaffirm the covenant previously established in their baptism. Lent's scope was further enlarged when it became a time for all the baptized to prepare for celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Lent is therefore best understood as a time to reflect on the meaning of being joined to Christ in baptism. Lent leads us back to the waters of the font into all that it means to be Christian. It is a time of repentance, of reaffirming the faith, of prayer and discipline, of rebirth and renewal, of probing the questions of faith and life, of overflowing in mission to do God's will in the world. The dominant spirit of Lent therefore should not be to give up something as it is to take up anew all that it means to belong to Christ.
ASH WEDNESDAY marks the beginning of Lent. The day receives its name from the ancient practice of marking the forehead with ashes as a sign of repentance, of human mortality, and of the need to totally depend upon God for life.
PURPLE is the traditional color for Lent, used to denote penitence and humility. However, somber hues of earth colors in fabrics of rough, coarse textures might convey the mood of Lent more effectively. BLACK or GREY might be used on ASH WEDNESDAY.
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