Saint Michael's Lent

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Saint Michael's Lent is a period of fasting observed in the Catholic Church, from the Feast of the Assumption on August 15 to Michaelmas (the feast of St Michael) on September 29, excluding Sundays. [1] According to Bonaventure, St. Michael's Lent originates in Franciscan tradition. [2] It is also mentioned in Little Flowers of St. Francis . [3] It was the custom for Francis of Assisi to fast before Michaelmas to honor the Blessed Virgin and St. Michael. [4] As a pious custom, it isn’t intended to be as rigorous as Lent proper.

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References

  1. "St. Michael’s Lent August 15th to September 29th", Secular Franciscan Order - USA
  2. Goepel, Masha. "Participate in St. Michael’s Lent this Autumn", Catholic Stand, August 19, 2019
  3. "St. Michael's Lent: A period of fasting observed by St. Francis of Assisi". aleteia.org. 14 August 2019.
  4. de Montor, Artaud. The Lives and Times of the Roman Pontifs, from St. Peter to Pius IX, Volume 1, Issue 2, D. & J. Sadlier, 1869, p. 404