LENT : WHY IS IT 40 DAYS?
Lent is 40 days long and excludes Sundays. The exclusion of Sundays from the 40-day count is rooted in the traditional Christian belief that Sundays are a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Since Sundays are considered a day of joy and not a day of fasting or penance, they are not included in the calculation of the 40 days of Lent.
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Lent ends three days before the joyous celebration of Easter Sunday. This particular week leading up to Easter Sunday, called Holy Week, has deep spiritual significance within Christianity as it remembers the events of the last days of Jesus.
As mentioned above, Lent starts on Ash Wednesday. Many will attend church and receive a smudge of ashes on their forehead in the shape of a cross. The ashes are a symbol of repentance, humility, and mortality, reminding believers of their need for forgiveness and the brevity of life.
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Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday. commemorating Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Crowds waved palm branches and laid cloaks on the road to honor Him.
Holy Wednesday recognizes Judas' betrayal of Jesus, a somber part of the Easter narrative.
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Maundy Thursday, the final day of Lent, commemorates the Last Supper and the institution of Holy Communion. It also commemorates Jesus' washing of the disciples' feet and His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane.
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The most solemn day of Lent, Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus on the cross. Many Christians participate in solemn services and reflections on this day.
Easter Sunday is the culmination of Lent, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. It is the most joyful and significant day in the Christian calendar.