Christ the Cornerstone

What is Lent and why does it last forty days?

View our Lent and Easter topic page with links to all our resources!

Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent comes from the Anglo Saxon word lencten, which means "spring." The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry.

Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection. In the early church, Lent was a time to prepare new converts for baptism. Today, Christians focus on their relationship with God, often choosing to give up something or to volunteer and give of themselves for others.

Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days because each Sunday represents a "mini-Easter" and the reverent spirit of Lent is tempered with joyful anticipation of the Resurrection.

 

 

Lent and Easter

Find a variety of resources and prayers to help make the 40 days of the season have deeper meaning. Read More

 

 

 

40 Days of Lent: Find your own spiritual path

There is no one, right way to observe a holy Lent. These ideas and resources will help you stay on track throughout the season. Read More

 

 

 

Chuck Knows Church: Lent

This video addresses basic questions about the 40 days before Easter. View