Barbara Brown Taylor's small book, Speaking of Sin, has introduced me to a Lenten practice I have never heard about. She writes: "For earlier Christians, the season of Lent was set aside for the greening of the soul, which began with penitence and fasting. New converts were prepared for holy baptism on Easter eve, and people whose sins had separated them from the community were invited back..."
Invited back?!
Now that is a custom I have never heard about! I wonder if they were simply sent a letter, informing them of Easter services, as we often are these days, or if there was more to it than that...
It's an interesting custom I'd like to learn more about.
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