Catholic Fasting, Praying and Alms Giving During Lent (Easter Season):

The Israelites, God’s chosen people, were demanded to worship on the Sabbath Day. This was a day to desist from any physical activity and give homage to the Creator. On the Sabbath, the religious leaders of the Israelites imposed many rules and regulations onto the people; these regulations forbade any activity, such as work on the farm or even cooking. God rested on the seventh day of Creation; therefore, the Israelites followed suit.

The Catholic Church, the one in which Jesus founded, has celebrated Easter Sunday from the very beginning. In the Book of Acts, Chapter 20, Verse 7 we read; “On the first day of the week we met for the breaking of bread.” This verse provides us with evidence that Christians assembled on Sundays to break bread, (Eucharist) and hear the instructions of God (The Liturgy of the Word). In the economy of salvation, the resurrection of the dead was imperative to reconcile ourselves to the Father. Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday opened the gate of heaven for the believer. Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection fulfilled all the prophecies discussed throughout the Old Testament; and thus, the New Covenant was formed.

The resurrection of Christ is vital to everyone’s salvation. Without it, Christianity would be vain. It became clear to believers that the Sabbath was made for man and that man was not made for the Sabbath. The believers began to worship on Sunday, the first day of the week, commemorating Christ’s resurrection; this was in an effort to put God first in their lives. Without getting into too much detail and history here, every Sunday is a celebration of Easter which signifies a new beginning. The festival of Easter is always celebrated in conjunction with the beginning of spring-time. Spring expresses a new beginning of seasons, bringing life to the world. Christ’s resurrection ultimately conveys everlasting life and a ‘newness’ for The Church; therefore the timing is perfected.

The Catholic Church’s dogmas, devotions and teachings regarding Easter are deeply rooted in Scripture; based on the life of Christ. Here are a few examples of the many ways Catholic’s deepen their relationship with Christ, during the Easter season:

The Bible and the Church teach that the spiritual battle we as humans fight are of principality and the world, the flesh, the devil. In Jesus’ spiritual preparation for His ministry, He is led by the spirit into the wilderness for 40 days and forty nights. There, Mathew 4;1-11 explains; “He fasted 40 days and nights, afterward he was hungry, and the devil came and tempted him in three ways.” Satan knowing Jesus was hungry tempted him with a desire of the flesh to turn stones into food which Jesus responded in his divinity; “Man does not live on bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”.

• Catholics fast from meat (among other things) on Fridays (and other days) during Lent to commemorate Jesus’s denial of Satan’s offer.

​Then the devil tempts Jesus to commit suicide by throwing himself off of the temple, indicating that God would rescue him. Jesus says to him “You shall not tempt the Lord your God”.

• As followers of Christ, Catholics devote themselves to prayer, seeking mercy for their sins in an effort to grow closer to God.

Then the devil tempted Jesus by offering him the kingdoms of the world, and for Christ to bow and worship the devil. The devil is constantly offering the world to us in the acquisition of materials, power, and satisfaction of the flesh. Jesus’ reply to the devil about this final temptation is “You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve”.

• As Catholic’s we devote ourselves to the Lord by fasting, praying and alms giving, all of which can be described as forms of ‘penance.’ This penance follows the original Apostles’ traditions outlined in (Acts 1; 14-15, Acts 2; 42).