Lent is a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It is a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter.
We are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ’s will more faithfully. We recall the waters of baptism in which we were also baptized into Christ’s death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ.
Download the DCC App (Apple Store/Google Play Store) for a complete "Pocket Companion" for your Lenten journey. The digital Lent Pocket Companion includes a Spotify playlist; Confession, Rosary, and Stations of the Cross how-to-guides; prayers; Scripture reflections; and much more!
The Three Pillars of Lent
PRAYER
During Lent, we are asked to devote ourselves to seeking the Lord in prayer and reading Scripture. Consider the following ways you can deepen your prayer life at Duke this Lenten season:
JOIN A SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY
Connect with fellow Catholics, explore Scripture together, and lift one another up in prayer. Sign up here.
SPEND TIME WITH JESUS
Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament is offered in Goodson Chapel each Wednesday at 8:00 pm and the Blessed Sacrament is always present in the Chapel at the FAH.
PRAY THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Join us at the FAH every Friday at 6:30 pm during Lent to pray the Stations of the Cross together. On Friday, April 11, we will pray the Stations of the Cross as a ministry throughout campus. Meet us in the Quad in front of Duke Chapel at 6:00 pm.
FASTING
We are called to practice self-discipline and fast throughout the Lenten season.
FASTING DURING LENT
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 through age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two small snacks (that together are not equal to a full meal).
Those who are excused from fasting outside the age limits include the physically or mentally ill, including individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes. Also excluded are pregnant or nursing women.
ABSTINENCE DURING LENT
A day of abstinence is a day on which Catholics fourteen years and older are required to abstain from eating meat.
Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Fridays during Lent are all days of abstinence.
If you have questions about your obligations to fast or abstain, please reach out to Fr. Juan José or Fr. Nicholas.
ALMSGIVING
Almsgiving is the action that leads us to see others and love them. Prayerfully discern ways that you can give to others by sharing your time, treasure, and talent.
To facilitate this practice, the Duke Catholic Center will have two intentional giving campaigns with charities we already partner with Catholic Relief Services (during the March 30 Masses) and the Durham Food Pantry (during the March 23 Masses).
Visit the Duke Catholic App (Apple Store/Google Play Store) to learn more about these and explore other charities our ministry is involved in.