Welcome to our Lent specialty store.

A Brief History and Definition of Lent

The Germanic word Lent (lecten), which we use to denote the forty days' of preparation preceding the Paschal feast, originally meant simply the spring season. It has been used since the Anglo-Saxon period (9^th Century) to translate the more significant Latin term quadragesima, meaning the "forty days", or more literally the "fortieth day". This in turn imitated the Greek name for Lent, tessarakoste (fortieth), a word formed from the relationship to the word Pentecost (pentekoste), which had been used as a name for the Jewish festival before the time of Christ.

In the first three centuries of Christian experience, preparation for the Paschal feast usually covered a period of one or two days, perhaps a week at the most. Saint Irenaeus of Lyons (ca AD 140-202) even speaks of a forty-hour preparation for the Paschal celebration.

The first reference to Lent as a period of forty days preparation occurs in the teachings of the First Council of Nicea in AD 325. By the end of the fourth century, a Lenten period of forty days was established and accepted in the Church. Pope St. Leo (d. 461) exhorts the faithful to abstain they they may “fulfill with their fasts the Apostolic institution of the forty days.”

In it's early development Lent quickly became associated with the sacrament of baptism, since Easter was the great baptismal feast. Those who were preparing to be baptized participated in the season of Lent in preparation for the reception of the sacrament of baptism. Eventually, those who were already baptized considered it important to join these candidates preparing for baptism in their preparation for Easter. The customs and practices of Lent, as we know them today, soon took hold.

Adapted from the “Lent and Easter Wisdom” series and the Catholic Encyclopedia.

Book Description:   We do not have video or photographic records of Jesus' life, nor do we have a definitive biography - only glimpses offered in the gospels. Even though Christ remains one of the most frequently written about figures in all of history, it is impossible for us to understand the mystery of his life. As we approach the Lenten season, author John Timmerman invites …

This reusable sticker calendar counts the 50 days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost. Each day an image drawn from scripture is added to the calendar, first the Good Shepherd himself, followed by images such as milk and honey, lightning and rain, a lion and a lamb. Each calendar set includes an 11" by 17" laminated background board, a sheet containing 51 full-color reusable stickers, and a …

Easter Meditations on the Resurrection Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M. Cap.; Demetrio S. Yocum, Translator In this book of meditations Father Raniero Cantalamessa reflects on Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection. First presented as a Lenten retreat in Rome, together with the Good Friday homily in St. Peter’s Basilica, the result is a rich and multifaceted exploration of this central mystery …

The acclaimed Gloria Dei Cantores Schola, conducted by Dr. Mary Berry, using the exquisite music of the Gregorian Chant, sing hymns about Christ's Passion, the ultimate sacrifice. A highlight is the chanting of the entire Passion narrative according to the Gospel of John. Also includes chants on Christ's Resurrection and Ascension, closing with a powerful Te Deum.

Walking the Way of the Cross alongside Pope John Paul II, as he meditates upon the great mystery of our redemption, we experience the profound reality that beyond the darkness of every Calvary rests the radiant dawn of Easter joy and hope for all time. This book contains the text for the Stations of the Cross as celebrated by Pope John Paul II at the Colosseum in Rome on Good Friday 2003 as …

Large Stations Of The Cross Crucifix This unique crucifix features a pewter corpus modeled after the Shroud of Turin hanging on a wooden crucifix with pictures of the stations covering the surface.

The Week of Salvation: History and Traditions of Holy Week explores in comprehensive detail, the scriptural, liturgical, and devotional dimensions of what is the single most important week in the Church's calendar-Holy Week. Set in the context of the four Gospel accounts and Old Testament prophecies of our Lord's passion, death, and resurrection, The Week of Salvation examines the historical …

Father Richard C. Antall Imagine standing at the foot of the Cross. What do you see? What do you hear? Join his mother, one of the women who loved him, and his closest friend as they watch and wait with this heart-rending new meditation on the traditional Good Friday devotion of the Seven Last Words of Jesus. Combining startling Biblical insights, such as the fact Christ might have repeated …

Hans Urs von Balthasar This is an account, at once rigorously theological and warmly devotional, of the death and resurrection of Christ, and their significance for the Christian life. Von Balthasar offers sharp insights into some current controversies—for example, the 'bodiliness' of the Resurrection—and spiritual inspiration for the year round. This scholarly reflection of the climax of the …

The Mystery of Pentecost Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M. Cap.; Glen S. Davis, Translator These meditations present the mystery of Pentecost, from Luke in Acts, John in his Gospel, and Paul in his Letters. By placing these diverse but complementary points of view together, Cantalamessa provides priests, students, and interested lay people with a "three-dimensional" image of the coming of the …

Victoria wrote this set of 18 Responsories to be performed at the highly atmospheric Tenebrae Matins during the last three days of Holy Week. The texts tell of the betrayal and arrest of Jesus, his passion and burial. Sung by The Tallis Scholars

Pewter Passion Crucifix This pewter crucifix features the corpus from the Shroud of Turin and has images of the Passion on the arms of the cross.

The Sacred Passion Fr. Luis De La Palma In this book, Fr. de la Palma provides an aid for meditating on the Passion. He recreates the events of Jesus' life beginning with Holy Thursday and concluding with the burial of Our Lord and a powerful evocation of the coming resurrection. With vivid detail and a constant recognition of the role the Blessed Mother played in those days, Fr. de la Palma …

The Way of the Cross, with text taken from the Sacred Scriptures, in a pack of 50 booklets. Ideal for parish devotional or group use.

The book that integrated the Passion of Our Lord with genuine mental health To the initial astonishment of Catholic moral theologians a century ago, psychology discovered to provide invaluable guidance in developing personality. In this trail-blazing book, first published in 1958, priest-educator G. Emmett Carter gathered the wisest Christian thought about psychology— showing how it can aid …

This Ecce Homo (Behold the Man) medal is in the shape of Christ's Head after the Scourging at the pillar.  Medal is Hand engraved pewter.  It is carded and comes with a 24 in. chain.

Through Gospel citations, theological reflection and the experience of the average Christian, the author leads us through the Passion of Our Lord Jesus, scene by scene, to reveal the profound significance of some easily overlooked details in the drama of our salvation. Beginning with the Last Supper, through the Agony in the Garden, to the trial before Annas and Caiaphas and the trial before …

This beautifully hand-carved statue of Christ carrying the Cross measures an incredible 21 1/2in. tall and is made of olive wood from the Holy Land.  Only 1 Available!  Actual item pictured.

On April 8, 1977, a record crowd of over 6,000 worshippers came to St. Agnes Catholic Church in New York City to attend the Good Friday Service given by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. This was the very same church where, 50 years before, Sheen delivered his first three-hour Good Friday Service as a young priest. Now the church was filled to capacity, along with the school cafeteria, gymnasium and …