46, 44 or 40 days of Lent?

Lent is the season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It is a period of faith renewal and preparation to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter.

Mar 17, 2023

Fr Leonard Lexson


By Paul Devaraj

Lent is the season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It is a period of faith renewal and preparation to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter.

In the spirit of renewing our faith, the Church of the Assumption, is organising a series of Lent Formations. Each formation will be presented by the parish priest and liturgist, Fr Leonard Lexson. The hybrid formation enables attendees to come in person to the Assumption Family House or to join online via Zoom application.

The first in this series was held on March 4, and titled; 46, 44 or 40 Days of Lent? Lent commemorates the Paschal Mystery and the word ‘lent’ comes from an old English word meaning ‘spring’. In Latin, it is known by the term Quadragesima which literally means 40.

Historically there is some dispute on the exact number of days in Lent. Hence the title of the first formation. Actually, it boils down to understanding the principal behind how the days are counted. Below are three common ways of measuring the season of Lent:

-- Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and ends with Holy Saturday wherein Holy Week is part of the Lent Season. That makes 46 days.

-- Lent begins with Ash Wednesday until Holy Thursday exclusive and includes all six Sundays. That makes 44 days; finally

--Lent begins with Ash Wednesday until Holy Saturday but excluding all six Sundays, which brings it to 40 days. |

Despite the varying methods of counting the days of Lent, the number 40 stands as the most prominent answer for the total number of days. Why is that so? This is because the number 40 in the Bible is a traditional number attributed to Discipline, Devotion and Preparation.

Within Scripture, we see the number 40 ascribed to numerous situations. In the Old Testament, Moses stayed on the mountain of God for 40 days before receiving the 10 commandments (Exodus 24:18, 34:28); Elijah travelling 40 days before reaching the cave where he had his vision (1 Kings 19:8) and the town of Nineveh given 40 days to repent (Jonah 3:4). In the New Testament, we see Jesus spending 40 days in the wilderness, praying and fasting in preparation for His ministry (Matthew 4:2). Each of these situations corresponds to the principals of Discipline, Devotion and Preparation.

Fr Leonard also shared about the significance of Ash Wednesday and the liturgical use of ashes and its biblical roots. Also preached were the various observances suggested during Lent, their significance and the importance to be sincere in our desire to draw closer to our Saviour. Fr Leonard encouraged all participants to especially remember and commemorate their Baptism day because that is the pivotal day they became part of the Church.

Finally, the session touched on the three pillars of Lent which are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Fr Leonard quoted St Augustine who said, “Fasting and almsgiving are the two wings of prayer because they are signs of humility and charity.”

We at the Church of the Assumption hope many more will join these formations either physically or via Zoom and that as a community, grow in knowledge and have a fruitful season of Lent.

Schedule of upcoming sessions
March 25 (9.00am – 12 noon) — Holy Week 2 : Be Immersed in the Easter Triduum
April 1 — Easter 1 : We as an Easter People
April 15 — Easter 2 :Forty Days After Easter (Ascension),
Fifty Days After Easter Sunday - the Great Commissioning (Pentecost)
April 22 — Corpus Christi : Set Apart by the Body & Blood of Jesus

For enquiries and registration, email [email protected] or call 03-7497 6357

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