Official Website of the
Catholic Diocese of Little Rock
What is the season of Lent?
Lent is the 40-day, penitential season of preparation for Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends with the Paschal Triduum. The celebration of "Christ’s passion, death and resurrection, the culmination of the liturgical year, calls us yearly to undertake a journey of preparation, in the knowledge that our being conformed to Christ (Romans 8:29) is a priceless gift of God’s mercy," said Pope Francis in his 2019 Lent Message.
We partake in Lent with prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Prayer "teaches us to abandon idolatry and the self-sufficiency of our ego, and to acknowledge our need of the Lord and his mercy." Fasting turns us away "from the temptation to 'devour' everything to satisfy our voracity and (be) ready to suffer for love, which can fill the emptiness of our hearts." And almsgiving gives us an "escape (from) the insanity of hoarding everything for ourselves in the illusory belief that we can secure a future that does not belong to us." | lea en español
10 Ways to Deepen your Experience of Lent
Lent Resources 2019
Pray Unceasingly
Add eucharistic adoration, a virtual Way of the Cross, Bible study, the Prayer Book of Intentions or other traditional Catholic prayers to your time with God during Lent.
Fast for Love
While Moses (Exodus 34:28) fasted to prepare for God's revelation, Jesus took it a step further by doing the practice out of love.
Give Alms
Share what you have through CASA, One Church, special collections or CRS Rice Bowl to help those in need in Arkansas and beyond.
Lenten Guidelines
What are the rules about fasting and abstinence? Why should we perform penance? Why can't we eat meat on Fridays? Learn the answers to these questions and more.
Parish Activities
Catholic churches across Arkansas host lots of events including fish fries, soup suppers, parish missions, retreats, Bible studies and more during Lent.
Lenten Recipes
Sample these meatless recipes from Arkansas Catholic readers divided into main dishes, casseroles, soups and side dishes. Are you hungry yet?
Youth Resources
These activities incorporate prayer, fasting and almsgiving specific to children, teens and young adults to help them experience Lent in a deeper way.
Be Merciful
Penance doesn't feel like a sacrifice when directed to the benefit of others. Explore 25 ways to help others through the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
Reconcile with God
"Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart ..." (Joel 2:12). Reconciling with God and his Church is the function of the sacrament of reconciliation.
