Initiated in 2008, Quadragesima brings Catholics together, by means of the new media, to dedicate 40 days to humbly acknowledge our sinfulness, and our need for God's saving grace. For the many times we have ignored what His voice, we do penance and cry out to Him in thanksgiving for His mercy to those who repent.
Quadragesima denotes a season of preparation by fasting and prayer, to imitate the example of Christ (Mt 4). Several such were observed by the early Christians, but most commonly prior to Easter. The term "Quadragesima" is derived from the Latin word for "fortieth," in this case referring to the 40 days of Lent.
Each year, participants commit to three penitential practices (at various degrees of difficulty) that are very dear to the biblical and Christian tradition – prayer, almsgiving and fasting – in preparation to celebrate Easter fully. Doing these acts do not add to God's glory, nor do we "buy" our way to Heaven. Far from those, these practices are for ourselves. In denying ourselves we humble ourselves and recognise our ultimate need for God. Indeed, we come back to basics.
Anyone and everyone who joins this online community openly declares his/her desire to become more Christ-centred, and indeed more Christ-like, by pledging to die to ourselves to the One who gives life, to the One who is life itself. The Gospel of John reminds us: “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” – John 12:24-25
