‘Lent’ comes from the Old English and refers to the lengthening of the days in Spring.  In most languages the equivalent term refers to the forty days of the season.  This time of penance and fasting was decreed by the Council of Nicaea in 323 A.D. as an encouragement to all Christians to join with those about to be baptised in their preparations for Easter.  Since the early Christians did not fast on Sundays six days were added in the Seventh Century so that Lent began on the previous Wednesday.  There were two elements to the Lenten discipline.  Fasting meant one meal taken only late in the day – after None (the office said at the ninth hour about 3.00 p.m.).  The timing of this crept forward so that ‘afternoon’ now means after midday!  It was this practise that formed the model for the Ramadan observance in Islam.  The second was abstinence from eggs, meat and dairy products throughout this period – a discipline still kept by the Eastern Orthodox.  Our discipline today is much milder, covering just meat and leaving it to our discretion apart from Ash Wednesday and every Friday.  However, our Lenten resolutions should challenge us to grow in generosity towards God.