Lent Question

[Saints_Alive]

Lent begins Ash Wednesday. But when does it end ?

Google is no help. Some sites say it ends Holy Thursday, some say Saturday (Easter Eve).

 

[_Gemma]

Easter Sunday (26th April 2014) is the end of Lent.

 

[dmelosi]

Lent ends when the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday begin.

catholic.com/quickquestions/when-does-lent-really-end

 

[YADA]

Lent begins Ash Wednesday. But when does it end ?

Google is no help. Some sites say it ends Holy Thursday, some say Saturday (Easter Eve).

Easter Sunday (26th April 2014) is the end of Lent.

Lent ends when the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday begin.

catholic.com/quickquestions/when-does-lent-really-end

This was just too sweet not to call attention to !

Lent ends with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday …

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Lent ends with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday …

Yes. And that’s when the Triduum begins.

 

[Canuck000]

Easter Sunday (26th April 2014) is the end of Lent.

I thought Easter was April 20th 2014.

 

[Granum_Frumenti]

Lent begins Ash Wednesday. But when does it end ?

Google is no help. Some sites say it ends Holy Thursday, some say Saturday (Easter Eve).

The confusion may be due in part to a “redefinition” that seems to have taken place relatively recently in history (I’ve been looking without success for precise documentation): the “Holy Saturday” answer would be older.

Whatever your definition, notice that a “Lenten fast” does not end on the evening of Maundy Thursday (and probably most sources do not start a “Triduum fast” right there, either).

ewtn.com/library/liturgy/zlitur119.htm

The problem might be solved by distinguishing between the liturgical season of Lent and the 40 penitential days.

As our reader, and the missal, point out, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends when the Easter triduum begins with the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday.

This season includes the Sundays of Lent and thus extends for a total of 44 days.

If however, we take into account the number of days when fasting and/or abstinence is either recommended or obligatory before Easter, then Good Friday and Holy Saturday are also included, but the Sundays are not. We are then left with 40 fast or penitential days between Ash Wednesday and the Easter Vigil.