Reflecting on Lent

Reflecting on Lent
Originally uploaded by Chris Inside

As I begin my journey this year into the season of Lent, I would like to share with you a bit of history offered by the Little Black Book.

St Telesphorus is the pope often credited with instituting the tradition of a seven week Lent.

Whether that is true or not, Telesphorus was one of the Church's earliest popes, serving from about 128-129 A.D. until his martyrdom about 10 years later.

Little is known about this saint. It is thought he was probably Greek. Legend says that he was a hermit before he became pope during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian.

But despite the scarcity of information of his background, he is credited (rightly or wrongly) with initiating may of today's Catholic traditions.

For instance, he is said to have begun the celebration of Easter on a Sunday, the tradition of midnight Mass at Christmas, and deciding that the Gloria should be sung at Christmas midnight Mass. It is also said that he started Quinquagesima Sunday (Shrove Sunday) to encourage Christians to prepare for Lent, and he determined the length of the Lenten season.

What is documented is that Telesphorus died a martyr possible because he was a powerful preacher who led many people to convert to Christianity.

The Greek Church celebrates his feast day, February 22.

And so tomorrow the Journey again begins just as it does every year. With plans and resolutions for our journey to the Cross and ultimately to the empty Tomb. May your journey be as fruitful as I hope mine will be.

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Thanks be to God!