Lent

Before beginning His public ministry, a mission that culminated with His Passion, Death, and Resurrection, Jesus went out into the desert and fasted for forty days.  Following His example, we observe the forty days of Lent leading up to Easter each year to prepare ourselves for the mission to which God has called each of us: the crosses that we must bear, and the sharing in the Resurrection that follows.  

The Church particularly recommends three practices for the observance of Lent:

Prayer - Conversion in relation to God
Developing (or beginning) a habit of prayer is as essential to our relationship with God as conversation is essential to our relationship with other people.  It is our fundamental way of conversion or "turning" toward the Lord.

Fasting - Conversion in relation to self
Fasting from good things (foods, drinks, entertainments, etc.) is a way to put these things back into their appropriate places in our lives; it helps to moderate our use of them and refocus our attention on our relationship to God.  It’s also a kind of “strength-training” for the will; if we have practiced denying ourselves something, even something that isn’t actually bad for us, it makes it easier to deny ourselves when it really counts: those times we are seriously tempted to sin.  This practice is so important that the Church has made fasting and abstinence obligatory on certain days in Lent.

Almsgiving - Conversion in relation to others
Our time and treasure are important to our day-to day lives; we need them to take care of ourselves and our families and fulfill our responsibilities in this world.  But we also know that they are gifts from God.  We thank God for His gifts by using them well and generously: by volunteering to serve in some way and by contributing from our material wealth to assist those in need and to support the work of the Church.

Catholics are obliged to practice certain basic penances during Lent:

1. Abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays in Lent
This applies to those 14 and older and in good health.

2.  Fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
This applies to those from the ages of 18-59 and who are also in good health.  

How to fast: On a day of fasting you may eat one full meal and two smaller meals that together do not equal a full meal.

More information: USCCB.org