A time rich in symbols
Lent is not just a forty-day period before Easter. It is marked by powerful symbols, visible in churches but also in our daily actions. These signs are not decorative. They speak to the heart and give deep meaning to this time of conversion. Understanding these symbols helps us to live Lent with greater awareness.
The colour purple
During Lent, purple dominates the liturgy. The priest's vestments, the hangings and sometimes even the decorations in the church take on this hue. It expresses both sobriety and hope. It is not a colour of sadness, but of transformation.
Ashes
Ash Wednesday opens Lent with a very powerful gesture: receiving ashes on the forehead.
Ashes remind us of the fragility of human life. They invite us to humility and conversion. They also tell us that everything can begin again.
This simple sign marks the beginning of an inner journey.
The desert
The desert is a central symbol of Lent. It refers to the forty days Jesus spent in the desert before beginning his mission. The desert represents silence, trial, solitude, but also encounter with God. It is a bare place where one learns to return to the essentials. During Lent, everyone is invited to experience an "inner desert".
The cross
The cross takes on a special place during Lent. It reminds us of Christ's Passion and love that goes as far as total self-sacrifice.
Contemplating the cross is not about dwelling on suffering. It is about recognising a love that is stronger than death.
It prepares us for the light of Easter.
Fasting and sharing
Although they are not visible objects, fasting and sharing are living symbols of Lent.
Fasting expresses detachment.
Sharing manifests openness to others.
These gestures concretely embody the conversion of the heart.
Signs that still speak today
The symbols of Lent are not reserved for the past. They remain deeply relevant today. They invite us to slow down, reflect and reorient our lives. Through them, the Church offers a simple path: returning to God, step by step.
