?The key to understanding the meaning of Lent is simple: Baptism,? writes Mick. ?Our challenge today is to renew our understanding of this important season of the Church year and to see how we can integrate our personal practices into this renewed perspective.? In this Update Mick examines familiar customs of Lent—ashes, giving something up, examining our lives, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Stations of the Cross, blessing of palms, prayer, fasting, almsgiving and the Triduum rituals—and shows how we can renew these customs to bring forth the baptismal theme.