A reader writes:
Regarding what we give up for Lent, I am hearing two stories. First story: Of the 40 days of Lent, we do not observe Sundays; therefore, on this day and this day only, we do not have to observe Lent by what we have given up—i.e., if we gave up smoking, this is a day on which we can smoke.
Second story: Through the whole duration of Lent, including Sundays, up to Easter we should observe Lent thoroughly, including all that we have given up during Lent. It comes to more than 40 days if we include the Sundays, which is where I think the confusion comes into play.
Can you clarify?
I'm happy to do so! You've put your finger on the point of confusion. Everybody knows that there are supposed to be 40 days in Lent, and yet, if we count the days from Ash Wednesday until Holy Saturday (inclusive), we come up with 46 days. So how do we explain the discrepancy?
The answer is that all of those 46 days are within Lent, yet not all of them are of Lent, in the sense that they are supposed to be days of fasting and penance. In the past, Christians observed Lent by imitating Christ's 40 days in the desert. As He fasted for 40 days, so did they. (See "Reader Question: Observing Lent Before Vatican II.") Today, the Church only requires Western Catholics to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
From the very earliest days, the Church has declared that Sunday, the day of Christ's Resurrection, is always a feast day, and therefore fasting is forbidden. Since there are six Sundays within Lent, we have to subtract them from the days of fasting. Forty-six minus six is forty.
That's why, in the West, Lent starts on Ash Wednesday--to allow a full 40 days of fasting before Easter Sunday.
Unlike earlier generations of Christians, most of us don't actually fast every day during Lent, in the sense of reducing the amount of food we eat and not eating between meals. Still, when we give something up for Lent, that's a form of fasting. Therefore, that cannot be binding on the Sundays within Lent.
Does that mean that you should go out of your way on Sundays to indulge in whatever you gave up for Lent? Of course not. But in the same manner, you should not actively avoid it (assuming that it is something good that you've deprived yourself of, rather than something that you shouldn't do or consume anyway). To do so would be fasting, and that's forbidden on Sundays--even during Lent.
You can find out more in How Are the 40 Days of Lent Calculated?
If you have a question that you would like to have featured in our "Reader Questions" series, send me an e-mail. Be sure to put "QUESTION" in the subject line, and please note whether you'd like me to address it privately or on the Catholicism blog.
Isn’t Sunday the day of the resurrection, and for that reason we don’t fast? As I remember the Jews fasted on wednesdays and before the sabbath. But we as Christians fast on fridays for the death of Jesus and we celebrate his resurrection on Sunday, right?
i know lent to be from ASH WONESDAY to PALM SUNDAY ie the 40days of lent
The week that follows the 40days is called THE HOLY WEEK,Thur, is called the MONDY or HOLY THUR, then the Good friday,holy sat and EASTHER SUNDAY!.
I was told that we dont fast on sunday because sunday is the day of the Lord’s ressuration.
In like manner, we fast from meat every friday of the year b/cos that is the day that the Lord paid for our redemtion by His death on the cross.
i want to continue say that not fasting on sunday doesnt mean that our lenten observances and mortifications will not be kept on sundays it is still part of lent
JC, what you know is wrong.
Lent goes from Ash Wednesday through noon on Holy Saturday (46 days), minus the Sundays (6 days) for a total of 40 days. In the West, Holy Week is part of Lent.
This helped sooo much. Thank you all :]
I learned a lot about the observance of fasting (Lent) from this article. Fasting is a useful practice for all Christians. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We observe the practice of fasting in a couple of ways. 1: We are asked to fast for two meals on the first Sunday of each month, and 2: we are encouraged to fast for special circumstances, such as when someone is sick and we’re praying for their health or when we are seeking revelation. Fasting is very practical even without religious conviction. When coupled with faith, it is a powerful concept.
i was in a confusion whether 40 days fast should be kept on sunday or not,,,,but ur answer hd helped me in finding the answer of my question…..
God bless u my dear frnds….&
happy easter….
Lent ends on Holy Thursday. Not Holy Saturday as the article states. Words from the priest at my church on Saturday evening….And Easter is decided each year like this: It is the first Sunday after the first full moon after the equinox in the new year.
Ruth, what your priest said is correct, speaking liturgically; but the season of Lent does run from Ash Wednesday until Holy Saturday, inclusive. That’s why the Lenten fast, when it was observed more strictly, ran from Ash Wednesday through noon on Holy Saturday. This article is discussing the fast, not the liturgical cycle.
You can read more about the distinction here: When Does Lent End?
And you can read more about the traditional Lenten fast here: Reader Question: Observing Lent Before Vatican II.