Lent 2021
This year, Lent starts on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, and ends on Thursday, April 1 with evening mass on Holy Thursday. Lent is the 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday until Easter. It is a period observed by Christians as preparation for Easter, involving prayer, fasting and penitence.
The Latest
Where it's OK to eat corned beef on St. Patrick's Day this Lent
If you’re an Irish Catholic (or any Catholic) living in the United States, you will need to check with your... Read more
Pope Francis is going on retreat – and you can join in
As Pope Francis leaves Sunday to begin his annual Lenten retreat, Fr. Giulio Michelini, the priest leading this year’s spiritual... Read more
Pope Francis seeks silence, reflection on annual retreat
Pope Francis and members of the Roman Curia leave Sunday to begin their annual five-day retreat on the spiritual exercises... Read more
Pope Francis has a special message this Lent, and here it is
In his message for Lent 2017, Pope Francis reminded the faithful that they should heed the Scriptures and treat each... Read more
Pope on Ash Wednesday: Feeling suffocated by sin? Let God save you
At Ash Wednesday Mass, Pope Francis spoke about the bad habits, negativity, and sin present in our lives which cause... Read more
Lent isn’t just about penance – it’s also a time of hope, Pope Francis says
On Ash Wednesday, Pope Francis said that while Lent is certainly a time of mortification, it’s also a journey of... Read more
Money doesn't make you rich – loving others does, Pope says
Pope Francis’ pastoral heart came out in his Lenten message this year, focusing in what could be a lengthy homily... Read more
Pope Francis returns to Rome after a week of spiritual exercises
After spending a week outside Rome reflecting on key questions in the Gospel during their annual Lenten retreat, Pope Francis... Read more
Pope's retreat reflects on the Gospel's 'raw' questions
Pope Francis and members of the Curia embarked Sunday on their annual Lenten retreat, which this year centers on the... Read more
God did not create us to remain crushed by sin, Pope says
Leading his annual penitential service on Friday, Pope Francis told attendees to stand tall and be open to forgiveness, and... Read more
This 95-year-old priest walked three miles while hearing confessions
A 95-year-old priest named Friar Roberto walked more than three-and-a-half miles while hearing confessions during a recent “Penitential Walk” in... Read more
This Lent, an opportunity to help Middle East Christians
A gift of 40 dollars in Lent could help persecuted Christians and other refugees in the Middle East, thanks to... Read more
Lent is a time of pruning and reconciliation, Pope Francis says
In his Ash Wednesday homily, Pope Francis said that Lent is the perfect time to let go of selfish and... Read more
If mercy doesn’t reach your pockets, it’s not real, Pope says
For Pope Francis, mercy isn’t just spiritual, but is something that ought to be expressed in concrete acts of service... Read more
Pope calls for concrete acts of mercy this Lent
In his 2016 Lenten message, Pope Francis called the faithful to place special emphasis on the spiritual and corporal works... Read more
Holy Week is about humility – there is no other way, Pope says
Pope Francis on Palm Sunday said that imitating the humility of Jesus is what makes Holy Week “holy,” and encouraged... Read more
Italian bishop to offer Good Friday Way of the Cross meditations at Colosseum
The bishop who preached the final Lenten spiritual exercises for St. John Paul II has been chosen to prepare meditations... Read more
The Pope's Lent retreat: Bucking tradition or just being his Jesuit self?
While Pope Francis has altered the custom of his predecessors by leaving the Vatican for his yearly Lenten retreat, one... Read more
Pope Francis back from Ariccia with new seeds planted
After a weeklong spiritual retreat outside of Rome, Pope Francis expressed his gratitude to the priest who led the reflections,... Read more
This Lent, the Pope has a message for lapsed Catholics: It's never too late
Fallen away Catholics are being invited to “come home” this Lent through a worldwide initiative led by Pope Francis, which... Read more
