The Visual Signs of Lent

The Lenten season of reflection and repentance reshapes the visual and ritual life of our Sunday worship, inviting us to journey inward and deepen our spiritual connection. During these forty days, ornate decorations give way to simplicity, drawing our attention to contemplation and prayer.

You will notice the absence of flowers at the altar. In their place stands a minimalist arrangement of cacti, sticks, and dried roots—a subtle reminder of the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness. These “desert” elements call us into introspection and spiritual preparation as we reflect on Christ’s solitude and temptation.

The liturgical vessels also change. The chalice, paten, and communion pieces are replaced with simple, hand-thrown pottery. Earthy and unadorned, they reflect the humility and imperfection that mark this season.

The cross, too, is veiled in purple—the traditional color of Lent. This covering signals the season’s solemnity and invites contemplation of Christ’s sacrifice.

Through these visual shifts, we are drawn into Lent’s central themes: repentance, sacrifice, and transformation. By stripping away excess and returning to what is essential, we prepare our hearts for Easter and the promise of redemption.

The Cathedral also invites the community to help shape the shared visual and spiritual landscape of Lent by loaning your cross to the art exhibition: Crosses. See more information below.

Thank you to the Sanctuary Guild for so thoughtfully preparing us for the Lenten Season.

~Nancy Purcell, Director of Marketing and Communications