Lent 2026

A Time to Be Transformed

The Lenten season 2026 begins on Ash Wednesday, February 18, and concludes on April 2, Holy Thursday, at the threshold of the Easter Triduum. This liturgical season sets us on the path toward the greatest Christian feast: Easter, which celebrates the Resurrection of Christ.

This year’s theme — “Take heart! Jesus leads us”—invites us to undertake a true spiritual journey, guided by trust and hope.

A Time of Conversion and Renewal

Lent is traditionally understood as a time of conversion, a call to return to what is essential. It is an opportunity to listen more attentively to the Word of God and to the Holy Spirit, in order to discern the priorities of our lives.

As Pope Francis has reminded us, Lent is “a time to renew our faith, our hope and our charity.” He also emphasizes that hope dwells in every human heart:

“Everyone hopes. Hope is present in the heart of each person as a desire and expectation of good… We cannot live without these three inclinations of the soul: to believe, to hope, to love.” (Hope Does Not Disappoint, §§ 1 and 3)

A Journey Lived with Simplicity

When asked whether one can “succeed” or “fail” at Lent, Dominican friar Adrien Candiard encourages a humble and realistic approach:

“If we turn Lent into a heroic effort, we have missed the point… The spiritual life consists in allowing the Holy Spirit to act within us.”

Lent, then, is not a spiritual performance, but a favorable time to refocus and allow ourselves to be transformed. The interior life is not linear; it calls for patience, openness, and trust.

Resources to Support the Journey

Many dioceses offer reflection guides, prayer services, and retreats to accompany this season. Initiatives such as “Lent in the City,” organized by the Dominicans, also provide online spiritual programs accessible to all (in French only).

Lent 2026 is therefore an invitation to walk in trust, to welcome grace, and to prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter.