Lent 2025

The Lent season in 2025 will begin with Ash Wednesday on March 5th and conclude with Easter on April 20th.

Prayer, Fasting & Almsgiving

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence from meat.

• Prayer - Prayer is the elevation of the mind and heart to God in praise of his glory. During Lent we can dive deeper into our current prayer practices and identify areas where we can draw closer to God. Our Living Lent resources include opportunities to grow in prayer.
• Fasting - For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards.
• Almsgiving - One way to help others during Lent is by supporting Catholic Relief Services' annual Operation Rice Bowl. Here is an overview.

Here are frequently asked questions and answers about Catholic practices during Lent.

Family Resources for Lent

We have a wealth of suggestions for making the Lenten season come alive within your home and family. Lent is a good opportunity to talk with your spouse and your children and take part in activities that deepen our understanding of Jesus. Check out our Living Lent resources to ideas for prayers, projects and more.