Originally published at Churchpop
A few days ago, my son, who gave up meat for Lent, asked for sausage for breakfast. Why? Because it was a Sunday, and he was allowing himself to enjoy what he was sacrificing for Lent.
But is this a real thing? Is there a so-called “Sunday exception” during Lent? It’s not as clear-cut as you may have thought.
Why the “Sunday Exception” Seems to Make Sense
One idea behind the “Sunday exception” is that Sundays are not really part of Lent. The thinking goes like this. We speak of the “40 Days of Lent.” If you look at the calendar, between Ash Wednesday and Easter is actually 46 days. But if you don’t count the Sundays, you get back down to 40. Ergo, Sundays are not part of Lent.
Another idea is that Sundays are days of celebration. Each and every Sunday, even during Lent, is like a “little Easter.” So it would be inappropriate to fast on a Sunday.
Why It Doesn’t Really Make Sense
Okay, that “40 days” thing doesn’t quite add up, because technically Lent ends on Holy Thursday when the Easter Triduum begins (though our fasting continues until the Vigil on Holy Saturday). So if you count the days from Ash Wednesday to
