Examining Two Ways To Count Lent's 40 Days

Last week we saw how Lent had a double focus. The primary focus is on the preparation of new Christians for initiation on Holy Saturday after a period of faith formation and conversation, and a second focus emphasizes the ongoing conversion of God’s people to become more Christ-like as they renew their baptismal commitment on Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday. 

The prayer, fasting and almsgiving (or good works) that we undertake during Lent are meant to become a continuous part of our lives after Easter. We are to rid our lives of the “yeast of evil” as St. Paul taught the first Christians. Unfortunately, many of us still look at our Lenten observances as something we do for the 40 days of Lent and then we’re home free.  It’s probably time for us – as adults – to change this attitude toward Lent.

However, for those who are still following this pattern, an attempt will be made to explain how we count the 40 days of Lent. The season of Lent emphasizes two themes:  baptism and penance. During Lent, the Church prepares both catechumens and the faithful to celebrate the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

The catechumens celebrate the Rite of Election with the bishop in the Cathedral on the First Sunday of Lent and examine their lives by means of the Scrutinies in preparation for Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. The faithful prepare themselves for the renewal of their baptismal promises on Easter by being more attentive to God’s Word and by penance. 

For both groups, new life in the risen Christ is the goal; not how much candy we can give up, etc.

There are two ways to count the “40 days.” The lectionary presents the “baptismal” Lent consisting of the 40 days from the First Sunday of Lent through the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday. This is a special time of prayer for those preparing for baptism at the Easter Vigil.

Lent is also the time when the faithful reflect on their own baptism as well as on conversion in their lives, repentance and reconciliation. This penitential emphasis is symbolized by the Lenten fast from Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday (not including Sundays which are never days of penance).

These two ways of counting can lead to some confusion about when Lent begins and ends. Both Ash Wednesday and the First Sunday of Lent have prayers indicating the beginning of Lent

This double testimony can lead to some confusion about when Lent actually begins and ends. Both the opening prayers (collects) from Ash Wednesday and the First Sunday of Lent seem to mark the beginning of Lent. The collect from Ash Wednesday says:

                  Lord,

                  protect us in our struggle against evil.

                  As we begin the discipline of Lent,

                  make this day holy by our self-denial.

            The first Sunday of Lent also signifies the beginning of Lent:

                  Grant, almighty God,

                  through the yearly observance of holy Lent,

                  that we may grow in understanding

                  of the riches hidden in Christ

                  and by worthy conduct pursue their effects.

The official calendar notes that “Lent runs from Ash Wednesday until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper exclusive” (this would allow for 40 days without counting Sundays). However, since the Passover fast of the Lord begins immediately following the Holy Thursday Mass, most people think that Lent continues until the Easter Vigil. 

For myself, I understand the days from Ash Wednesday to the first Sunday of Lent as “warm-up” days. It’s like joggers doing stretching exercises before they take off running. This doesn’t mean we don’t take these days seriously. If joggers don’t do the stretching exercises, they risk experiencing leg cramps and other problems while jogging. The 40 days then begin on the day of Election when we choose our catechumens for the Easter Sacraments and they run until the celebration of the Lord’s Supper (including Sundays) – equaling 40 days. 

From the Lord’s Supper until the Easter vigil, we begin the Easter fast and prayer focused on those to be baptized and received into the Church on Holy Saturday. You may not agree with this, but there is an official Paschal Fast from Holy Thursday to the Easter Vigil.              Obviously the Church herself gives several different ways of counting the 40 days. However, it seems we count only so we can only resume where we left off, which really isn’t the purpose of Lent. 

Hopefully by Easter, we will have experienced some real change (however, large or small) in becoming more like Jesus so that Easter will be our rising again to new life.