Lent Notes
What is Lent?

The season in which Catholics prepare for Easter to strengthen their faith by renewing
their baptismal promises - commitment to their religion.

Begins on Ash Wednesday. Ashes symbolize that a person is preparing to renew their
baptismal promises.

Based on the time when Jesus went to the desert to prepare for his mission.

It’s a spiritual journey to strengthen one's relationship with God

Lent is often seen as a time of conversion where people identify times when they have
been sinful and try to change.
Catholic practices during Lent:
1) Prayer – Finding more time to communicate with God and also to listen to him.
2) Fasting/sacrificing – Giving something up that gets in the way of one's
relationship with God
3) Almsgiving – Doing something extra during Lent that helps to strengthen one's
relationship with God.
Lent and the Temptation of Jesus
Read the stories The Baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17) and the Temptation of Jesus (Matthew
4:1-11) and answer the questions.
1) How does John the Baptist react when he sees that Jesus wants to be baptized by him?
2) Why do you think that Jesus decided to be baptized?
3) After his baptism Jesus goes into the desert. Why do you think that he decided to go there?
4) What are the temptations that Jesus is given by the devil?
5) Overall from these temptations, what is the devil basically trying to get Jesus to do?
Messages from the story
Importance of Jesus' baptism
- Shows that Jesus that it is important to be part of the Church - sets an example for all.
Temptations Jesus faces
1) Stones to Bread - desire for convenience/comfort
2) Jumping off the temple - temptation for status/showing off
3) Ruler of the world - desire for power
Jesus' Humanity
- Jesus faced temptations do wrong just like we all do but he always remained faithful