Lent is a solemn season in the Christian liturgical calendar that begins on Ash Wednesday and prepares the faithful for the celebration of Easter. It is a sacred time of prayer, fasting, repentance, and almsgiving — a spiritual journey of conversion leading to the joy of the Resurrection.
During Lent, Catholics seek to grow closer to God by turning away from sin and renewing their commitment to Christ. Many observe fasting and abstinence, give up certain comforts, increase their time in prayer, and practice acts of charity. These practices help us imitate Jesus Christ, who fasted for forty days in the desert before beginning His public ministry (Matthew 4:1–11).
You may also wish to read our related article: The Things One Should Give Up This Lent.
What Do Fasting and Abstinence Mean?
For Catholics:
- Fasting refers to reducing the amount of food one eats.
- Abstinence means refraining from eating meat.
The Church teaches that all the faithful are called to do penance for their sins. These penitential acts are both personal and communal. Fasting helps us develop self-discipline, detach from worldly comforts, focus spiritually, and unite our sacrifices with Christ’s suffering.
Many Catholics also adopt additional Lenten practices, such as reading daily Scripture, following a Lenten devotional, praying the Rosary more faithfully, or meditating on the Stations of the Cross — a powerful reflection on Christ’s Passion.
Why Is Lent Called 40 Days?
We often hear about “the 40 days of Lent.” However, if you count the days from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday, you will find that there are actually 46 days. Why is that?
The reason is that the six Sundays during Lent are not counted as part of the forty penitential days. Every Sunday is a celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord, even during Lent. Because Sunday is always a “little Easter,” it is not considered a day of fasting or penance.
When we subtract the six Sundays from the 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Holy Saturday, we are left with the forty days of penitential preparation known as Lent.
The number forty is deeply rooted in Scripture:
- Jesus fasted for 40 days in the desert.
- The Israelites wandered for 40 years in the wilderness.
- Moses fasted for 40 days on Mount Sinai.
- Elijah journeyed for 40 days to Mount Horeb.
Thus, the Church intentionally observes Lent as a forty-day season of spiritual preparation, modeled after these biblical events.
When Does Lent End?
Liturgically, Lent ends before the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday evening. After that begins the Paschal Triduum — Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday — which leads into the celebration of Easter Sunday.
While we commonly say that Lent lasts until Easter, the Church technically distinguishes the Triduum from the Lenten season itself.
A Season of Grace
Whether we think of Lent as 40 days or as the full span from Ash Wednesday to Easter, the heart of the season remains the same: repentance, renewal, and preparation for the Resurrection of Christ.
Lent is not merely about giving something up. It is about returning to God with our whole heart, allowing Him to transform us, and preparing ourselves to celebrate the victory of Easter with renewed faith and joy.
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