How many days in Lent?

“Jesus' temptation reveals the way in which the Son of God is Messiah, contrary to the way Satan proposes to him and the way men wish to attribute to him. This is why Christ vanquished the Tempter for us: “For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sinning.” By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert” (CCC, 540).

Several different ways to count 40 days.

 1 Ash Wednesday
 2 Th
 3 Fri
 4 Sat
 
 5 First Sunday of Lent
 6 
 7
 8
 9
10
11

12 Second Sunday of Lent
13
14
15
16
17
18

19 Third Sunday of Lent
20
21
22
23
24
25

26 Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare)
27
28
29
30
31
32

33 Fifth Sunday of Lent
34
35
36
37
38
39

40 Palm / Passion Sunday
41
42
43
44 Holy Thursday
45 Good Friday
46 Holy Saturday
47 Easter Sunday

Fast and abstinence

“Fasting as explained by the U.S. bishops means partaking of only one full meal. Some food (not equaling another full meal) is permitted at breakfast and around midday or in the evening—depending on when a person chooses to eat the main or full meal.

“Abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, milk products or condiments made of animal fat.

“Abstinence does not include meat juices and liquid foods made from meat. Thus, such foods as chicken broth, consomme, soups cooked or flavored with meat, meat gravies or sauces, as well as seasonings or condiments made from animal fat are not forbidden. So it is permissible to use margarine and lard. Even bacon drippings which contain little bits of meat may be poured over lettuce as seasoning” (American Catholic).