March 1 is Ash Wednesday. Lent begins for the Latin Church. The Eastern Churches already begin fasting, abstaining from meat and dairy products, during their Triodion (Pre-Lent). You should by now have planned out your Lenten discipline.
Consult what your bishops wrote in 1985: liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/Penance/ Abstinence.pdf. They don’t set the bar very high, so consider doing a bit more. Choose something more challenging than giving up chocolate … again. Don’t go wobbly. Be traditional!
Each year, Holy Church conforms herself to her dying and rising Lord. Traditionally during Lent the Church strips our liturgy of its ornaments, such as flowers and music. She liturgically fasts – nay, rather dies – throughout Lent. Increasing deprivation characterises Lent’s liturgical worship so that our Easter celebration is that much sweeter, the flowers more florid, the music more tuneful and the white even brighter.
