[Sca-cooks] a Lenten question-

[patrick.levesque at elf.mcgill.ca]

A quick net search reveals the following. I don't know what it's worth, nor if
the sites are trustworthy, but it may be a basis for further research.

Petru


From:

http://www.wpi.edu/Admin/Diversity/Religion/ashwed.html

"Lent is a period of fasting, prayer, and spiritual renewal. The historical
origins of the season of Lent are obscure; however, historians have abundant
evidence that Christians in the early fourth century observed a 40-day
(excluding Sundays) penitential period before Easter. To this day, this period
of fasting and moral reform is considered essential for a meaningful
celebration of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The church
encourages charitable service, fasting, and prayer - traditional means for
seeking the grace of moral reform. Therefore, during Lent, Christians are
encouraged to respond generously to the needs of their neighbors."

and from:
http://www.daily-word-of-life.com/lent.htm

"In the fourth century, the Church won its freedom as a public religion and the
catechumenate became more formalized with definite periods of formation and
stages marked by public rites. When a person entering the Church came toward
the end of the catechumenate process, there was a 40-day retreat during which
they were prepared to be fully initiated into the community through Baptism,
Confirmation and admission to the Eucharist during the Easter Vigil. This final
period of preparation for Baptism became what we now call Lent."