Lent abounds with meaningful symbols that reflect the season

Friday, Feb. 13, 2015

SALT LAKE CITY — During Lent, Catholics use a variety of symbols that relate to the season’s themes of repentance, renewal and joy.

The symbolism of Lent starts with Ash Wednesday, when Catholics are marked on their foreheads with the ashes, which symbolize death and grief, as well as repentance and new beginning. Ashes and dust are synonymous. Human bodies are made of dust (Gen 2:7), and upon death they return to “dust and ashes” (Gen 18:17).

The ashes used on Ash Wednesday come from the burning of palms that were blessed the previous Palm Sunday. The residue is crushed into a fine powder, and then applied to the forehead in the Sign of the Cross with one of two statements:  “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel” (Mk 1:15) or “Remember you are dust and unto dust you will return” (Gen 3:19). 

Some of the other Lenten symbols that are commonly used among all the Catholics, no matter their culture, are:

THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Also known as The Way of the Cross, this ritual offers the chance to think about the crucifixion of Jesus. Each station is an opportunity to think about the pain and suffering Jesus went through because God loves us. The stations typically are prayed every Friday evening during Lent except on Good Friday, when the Stations of the Cross traditionally are prayed at 3 p.m.

THE PALM BRANCHES symbolize Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The branches remind Catholics that there are both triumphs and defeats in life but that if they maintain their friendship with God, they will ultimately triumph.

THE EASTER EGG became a symbol of the rock tomb out of which Jesus emerged to new life in the Resurrection.

THE FISH is a Lenten symbol for the obligation to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and to abstain from all flesh meat on every Friday in Lent. In the early days of the Church, the fish was a secret sign for Christ’s followers, who were forced to worship in the catacombs in Rome. Now it is a symbol that stands for a Christian who has been brought to life in the waters of the Sacrament of Baptism. 

WATER symbolizes cleansing and life-giving and is associated with the Sacrament of Baptism.

THE VIOLET COLOR is the liturgical color for the season of Lent, as well as the color of the stole worn by the priest for the Sacrament of Reconciliation; it signifies suffering and sorrow. Violet is a somber color that symbolizes mourning, suffering, humility, regret and the willingness to do penance, particularly fasting. Violet’s association with suffering is based upon Jesus’ Passion, when the soldiers clothed him in a purple cloak and tortured him (Mk 15:17-20; Jn 19:2-3).

THE MONEY BAG symbolizes the Lenten penitential practice of almsgiving; money put into the bag is then donated to the poor.