A great question that I admittedly did not fully understand until now even though Mr. LeBlanc, who knows liturgy well, tried to explain to me the fact that from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday is 40 days plus another seven. Yes seven!!!!
I can hear my brothers saying to me, "What? You mean we have been doing this Lent thing for more than 40 days?" Well, to answer that question as they would want it answered, I would have to say "Yes." "So, explain that for us."
Well, Vatican II documents tried to remedy the confusion that existed. It declared that Lent does begin on Ash Wednesday BUT, BUT, BUT, we count that Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday as penitential days --- maybe it is like Spring training!!! --- and start counting the forty days on Saturday afternoon when the Vigil for the 1st Sunday begins. We then count from Saturday evening until the next Saturday evening when we begin the Vigil of the 2nd Sunday of Lent. That makes seven days. And on that Saturday evening we begin to count another seven days. There are five weeks when we arrive at the Visil for Palm Sunday. That makes thirty fve days. Then Palm Sunday, Monday of Holy Week, Tuesday of Holy Week, Spy Wednesday and Holy Thursday morning. That makes another five days. 35 plus 5 equals 40 days.
The confusion does not end so quickly. When does Lent end? When are ther 40 days completed even if we start on the 1st Sunday of Lent? Well, here we go again. 40 days after the 1st Sunday of Lent is Wednesday, sometimes called "Spy Wednesday" of Holy Week. So, the 40 days of Lent are concluded on Wednesday of Holy Week.
What about the rest of those days in that week? Well, I can say welcome to the Sacred Triduum (three days). Welcome to the most quiet and sacred days in the life of Jesus Christ and the Church. This triduum begins Thursday afternoon and continues through Saturday morning to make three days. From the Vigil of Easter on Holy Saturday evening onward for some additional 40 days we are in the Easter Season.
Now, if you wonder why many priests never want to be a Bishop, trying to figure out something like the above might give you a clue to understanding why!
If you are confused, don't let it bother you.
