As Easter approaches, many Christians and Catholics spend the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Holy Week reflecting on the past year and preparing for Jesus to rise again.
If it’s been awhile since you cracked open your Bible, here’s a quick refresher on how it all works. In 2022, Lent begins on March 2 (which is also Ash Wednesday) and ends on April 14, or Holy Thursday. That day, the Thursday before Easter, commemorates when Jesus gathered with his disciples to celebrate Passover before he was betrayed and sentenced to death by crucifixion, which took place on Good Friday. Then, he rose from the dead three days later on Easter Sunday.
The Lenten season is inspired by the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert preparing for his own sacrifice. During that 40 days, many people will give up something they love like chocolate, alcohol or a favorite food and many also abstain from eating meat other than fish on Fridays. But others like to spend the time reflecting and praying about something important to them, thinking about how they can become better or more prayerful people or how they can share Jesus’ love with the world. Whether you’re looking for a daily devotional to add some more intention to your journey, want to spend your Lent spreading some thoughtful sentiments with friends and family or need a little inspiration for your Lenten social media posts, these faith-filled Lent quotes will fit the bill.
1
Pope Francis
God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy.
2
Megan Westra
What if we view this desert time of Lent as not just a time to reflect or to lament or to confess or to fast, but a time where we learn to be free.
3
Lamentations 3:22-23
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
4
Rowan Williams
The self-denial involved in the period of Lent isn’t about just giving up chocolates or beer; it’s about trying to give up a certain set of pictures of God which are burned into our own selfish wants.
5
Elizabeth Hyndman
There are three elements that are almost always part of Lent: prayer, giving something up and giving something back.
6
Russell D. Moore
The kingdom of God ought to reshape our vision of what matters.
7
Trevin Wax
What is more important than the practices we take on is the heart attitude behind them. If there’s anything we should give up this time of year, it’s our sense of superiority either to those outside the church or those inside the church who do things differently than we do. The cross levels us all. And that’s true whether or not you practice Lent.
8
John Chrysostom
No act of virtue can be great if it is not followed by advantage for others. So, no matter how much time you spend fasting, no matter how much you sleep on a hard floor and eat ashes and sigh continually, if you do no good to others, you do nothing great.
9
Catherine Doherty
Lent is a time of going very deeply into ourselves…What is it that stands between us and God? Between us and our brothers and sisters? Between us and life, the life of the Spirit? Whatever it is, let us relentlessly tear it out, without a moment’s hesitation.
10
Nana Dolce
The command to love and serve—not merely tolerate—each other requires more commitment and sacrifice than we care to give, and so we do the polite minimum from afar. The seasons of Lent and Easter bring thoughts of surrender and sacrifice.
11
Pope Francis
Lent is a fitting time for self-denial; we would do well to ask ourselves what we can give up in order to help and enrich others by our own poverty. Let us not forget that real poverty hurts: no self-denial is real without this dimension of penance. I distrust a charity that costs nothing and does not hurt.
12
St. Francis de Sales
You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working and just so, you learn to love by loving. All those who think to learn in any other way deceive themselves.
13
Wendy Speake
When you put down your phone, it’s easier to lift up your eyes.
14
Beth Moore
Some things don’t need to be cut back. They need to be cut off.
15
Krish Kandiah
What we see in Christ is sacrificial love. Merciful love. Love that values the well-being of others above itself. Love that will generously and fully pour itself out, whatever the cost, in order that the beloved might benefit, flourish and thrive.
16
St. Augustine
Patience is the companion of wisdom.
17
Matthew 6:6
When you pray, go to your inner room, close the door and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
18
St. Francis de Sales
Have patience with all things, but first of all with yourself.
19
Thomas Merton
Ash Wednesday is full of joy…The source of all sorrow is the illusion that we are anything but dust.
20
Laiha Gifty Akita
May God empower your inner strength through the power of the Holy Spirit.
21
St. Josemarie Escriva
You don’t know how to pray? Put yourself in the presence of God, and as soon as you have said, ‘Lord, I don’t know how to pray!’ you can be sure you’ve already begun.
22
St. Pio of Pietrelcina
Pray, hope, and don’t worry. Worry is useless, God is merciful and will hear your prayer.
23
Psalm 34:18
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.
24
St. Teresa of Avila
Patience obtains all things.
25
Fulton Sheen
If you don’t behave as you believe, you will end by believing as you behave.
26
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
Just take everything exactly as it is, put it in God’s hands and leave it with him. Then you will be able to rest in him — really rest.
27
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
Prayer is the breath of the soul and of life.
28
Stations of the Cross
We adore you and we bless you, Lord Jesus Christ, here and in all the churches which are in the whole world, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
29
Chris Seay
We need to take time to connect with the poor, resist our unceasing cravings and pray. But we also need to gather with friends and family, share in God’s good provision, eat delicious food, tell stories that encourage us all and celebrate the risen Lord.
30
Fulton Sheen
Show me your hands. Do they have scars from giving? Show me your feet. Are they wounded in service? Show me your heart. Have you left a place for divine love?
31
St. Francis de Sales
True progress quietly and persistently moves along without notice.
32
Luke 9:23
And he said to all: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
33
Fulton Sheen
Unless there is Good Friday in your life, there can be no Easter Sunday.
34
Walter Buns
Some people think that having ash on your forehead is ridiculous. But I am neither ashamed nor afraid because the ashes remind me that I have to someday pass away and reunite with my creator.
35
Catherine of Genoa
Lenten fasts make me feel better, stronger and more active than ever.
36
Elaine Stritch
There’s something about it that makes sense, Lent. You give something up, and everything’s more joyful.
37
Matt Fradd
You could say that prayer without fasting is like boxing with one hand tied behind your back, and that fasting without prayer is, well, dieting.
38
St. John Vianney
You do not need to wallow in guilt. Wallow in the mercy of God.
39
Pope St. Gregory the Great
The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist.
40
Thomas Merton
Every moment and every event of every man’s life on earth plants something in his soul.
Lizz Schumer
Senior editor
Lizz Schumer is the senior editor for Good Housekeeping, and also contributes to Woman’s Day, and Prevention, covering pets, culture, lifestyle, books, and entertainment.
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io
