Sundays? Lent?

Cassie and Abby (and Roger, God bless him) are giving up sweets for Lent. As a result, Abby (God bless her) passed up a Dunkin' Donut at a classmate's birthday celebration the other day. I told Cassie that I'm not much into that kind of sacrifice these days, but back in the old days, Sundays didn't count as part of Lent: Sunday is a special day, a day of celebration, so you can suspend your sacrifice on Sundays. Cassie was happy to get the news, but other people who heard my explanation were skeptical ("I never heard anything like that before!"). For their edification:

Q: Last year my Catholic co-workers and I disagreed over whether Sundays are considered part of Lent. Each year I give up sweets for Lent, but I have always understood that I could eat them on Sundays during Lent. Some of my co-workers disagree. With Lent starting soon, I would like to know who is right on this issue.

A: Technically, Sundays are not part of Lent. Although we celebrate them liturgically as part of Lent, the Lord's Day cannot be a day of fast and abstinence. Six weeks of Monday through Saturday gives you 36 days. If you add to them Ash Wednesday and the three days after it, you get the 40 days of Lent.

Some people may find it easier to "give up" something for the entire time between Ash Wednesday and Easter, but you are correct in saying that Sundays are not part of the 40 days.

http://tinyurl.com/bsq9ae