This year the season starts on February 22nd (Ash Wednesday) and ends on April 8th (Holy Saturday). The traditional fast of 40 days does not include Sundays.

Purple is the season’s colour, though this gets complex near Easter. Red is used from Passion Sunday or Palm Sunday.

In other contexts there may be great wisdom in adopting Lent as an identifiable season of preparation for Easter. All of us need to sanctify our calendars and make clear that nothing in the winter and springtime of the year—not Valentine’s Day, not spring break, not March Madness, not even the hockey playoffs—is as important to our identity as Jesus’ death and resurrection. – John D. Witvliet

Readings

Lent
Year AFirst readingPsalmSecond readingGospel

Ash Wednesday
February 22, 2023
ART — PRAYER		 Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
or
Isaiah 58:1-12		 Psalm 51:1-17 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
First Sunday in Lent
February 26, 2023
ART — PRAYER		 Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 Psalm 32 Romans 5:12-19 Matthew 4:1-11
Second Sunday in Lent
March 5, 2023
ART — PRAYER		 Genesis 12:1-4a Psalm 121 Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 John 3:1-17
or
Matthew 17:1-9
Third Sunday in Lent
March 12, 2023
ART — PRAYER		 Exodus 17:1-7 Psalm 95 Romans 5:1-11 John 4:5-42
Fourth Sunday in Lent
March 19, 2023
ART — PRAYER		 1 Samuel 16:1-13 Psalm 23 Ephesians 5:8-14 John 9:1-41
Annunciation of the Lord
March 25, 2023
ART — PRAYER		 Isaiah 7:10-14 Psalm 45
or
Psalm 40:5-10		 Hebrews 10:4-10 Luke 1:26-38
Fifth Sunday in Lent
March 26, 2023
ART — PRAYER		 Ezekiel 37:1-14 Psalm 130 Romans 8:6-11 John 11:1-45
Liturgy of the Palms
April 2, 2023
Sixth Sunday in Lent
ART — PRAYER		 &nbsp Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 Matthew 21:1-11 &nbsp
Liturgy of the Passion
April 2, 2023
Sixth Sunday in Lent
ART — PRAYER		 Isaiah 50:4-9a Psalm 31:9-16 Philippians 2:5-11 Matthew 26:14-27:66
or
Matthew 27:11-54
  Italicized readings, complementary to the standard reading, may be used with, or in place of it.

 

Sources