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Greg Laposa wrote:

Hi, guys —

  • Are there any specific provisions related to Catholic doctrine and practice that suggest Sundays are not officially a day of Lent, thereby allowing those practicing the 40-day sacrifice to choose whether, or not, to refrain from engaging in a penitential practice during Sundays in Lent?

Greg
  { Are Sundays and special feast days during Lent an exception to the 40-day Lenten period? }

Mike replied:

Hi, Greg —

Thanks for the question.

Yes, there are provisions!

The forty days of Lent exclude all Sundays during Lent because when we attend Sunday Mass, we are celebrating a mini-Easter throughout the year.

You don't have to refrain from your Lenten penance of choice on Sundays, but you may if you wish to, seeing it doesn't make up one of the forty days of Lent. In addition, you may be able to refrain from penitential practices on special feast days during Lent, like:

  • the Feast of St. Patrick (March 17)
  • the Feast of St. Joseph (March 19), and
  • the Solemnity of the Annunciation (March 25)

in some cases, with the permission of the local bishop.

I hope you have a Holy Lent and Happy Easter!

Mike
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