Dimapur: On Wednesday, March 5, the Catholic Church began one of the most important seasons of the Church year: the 40 days of Lent. It may be mentioned that Lent is a time when Catholics remember the 40 days and nights Jesus spent alone in the desert without food, being tempted by the devil. The season is marked by a time of spiritual renewal accompanied by penitence, fast and abstinence.
According to a note received here, some significant days during the period of Lent are Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Maundy or Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Starting on Ash Wednesday, the Lenten season includes 40 weekdays and five Sundays before Holy Week and the culminating triumph of the Resurrection at Easter. Incidentally, the Easter Sunday falls this year on April 20.
The note stated that Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, the bishop of the Diocese of Kohima, has exhorted every faithful of the diocese to avail this time of grace for personal spiritual renewal. The Bishop also wished all the Catholic Faithful of Nagaland a fruitful season of Lent.
