When is the last day of Lent abstinence?

[ndulzky]

Hi there,

If I am giving up something during Lent (e.g, chocolate), when can I start eating it? Is it Thursday after mass, or Friday (day after the last day of Lent), or do I actually have to wait until Easter Sunday before I can start eating chocolate again?

I did some research and found a few different answers. There is something that says Lent Liturgical season ends on Holy Thursday, but Penitential Season ends on Holy Saturday. What is the difference between Liturgical vs Penitential season? As far as giving up something for Lent, does it end on the Liturgical Season (Holy Thursday) or Penitential Season (Holy Saturday)? Can I start eating chocolate ON the last day of Lent, or the day after?

Thank you!

 

[Fr.Charles_Grondin]

According to the General Norms for the Liturgical Year and Calendar Lent runs from Ash Wednesday until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper and the Easter triduum begins with the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, reaches its high point in the Easter Vigil, and closes with evening prayer on Easter Sunday.

Giving up something for Lent is a private devotion and is not regulated by any Church law or rule. Usually people give up something for Lent and maintain the penance until their celebration of Easter (either Saturday night or Sunday morning). However if someone chose to end their privately chosen penitential practice on Holy Thursday evening there is nothing really wrong with that either.