Lent 2026
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August 15 is not only the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary: It's also the start of St. Michael's Lent, a practice that dates back to the 13th century and St. Francis of Assisi.
While St. Francis is widely known for his love of the poor and his great care of nature, he also possessed a deep interior life that was punctuated by frequent periods of prayer and fasting. He often stepped away from his community of brothers and sought solitude to deepen his relationship with God.
In 1224, two years before his death, Francis felt drawn to Mount La Verna and set out with a few of his closest brothers to spend a period of prayer and fasting on the mountain.
St. Bonaventure records in his biography (written between 1260-1266) how Francis, "was brought after many and varied toils unto a high mountain apart, that is called Mount Alverna. When, according unto his wont he began to keep a Lent there, fasting, in honor of St. Michael Archangel, he was filled unto overflowing, and as never before, with the sweetness of heavenly contemplation."
It was during this fast that St. Francis received the stigmata, the holy wounds of Jesus Christ. The traditional date for the reception of the stigmata is September 17, a few days day after the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (which is on September 14).
It appears that this time of fasting began with St. Francis and was spread by Franciscans through the 18th century. After that it received less attention, but in recent years has seen a revival among some Catholics.
Each year, St. Michael's Lent begins on August 15 and ends on the feast of St. Michael the Archangel, September 29.
While observance is not compulsory, St. Francis' experience reminds Catholics of the importance of fasting and spending time alone with God. These practices shouldn't be reserved to the 40 days of Lent before Easter, but are applicable throughout the calendar year.
Catholics are always invited to draw closer to God, and St. Michael the Archangel is a powerful intercessor who stands ready to defeat our spiritual enemies so that we can embrace the freedom that is found in Jesus Christ.
For those who are looking to observe St. Michael's Lent for the first time this year, the Christian prayer app Hallow has launched a new series guiding users through the season.
“We’re honored to get to pray with folks this year through St. Michael’s Lent," Hallow CEO Alex Jones told Aleteia. Last year, Hallow offered the St. Michael's Lent challenge in Portuguese for Brazilian users.
"The response was just amazing," he said. "Everyone found it really impactful, and so this year, we wanted to offer it to everyone on Hallow around the world."
During St. Michael's Lent, users will be "journeying through Victory Over Vice by Fulton Sheen and meditate on St. Francis’s life and learn about and pray for St. Michael’s intercession for all of us in our battle against evil and pride."
Prayer guides include Fr. Ambrose Criste from St. Michael’s Abbey, Sr. Alicia Torres from Our Lady of Angels, Fr. Isaiah from the CFRs, and Chris Stefanick, Jones told Aleteia.
"We couldn’t be more excited," he said.
