Lent 2020

When does Lent start 2020?
Lent 2020 starts on "Ash Wednesday," which is February 26, 2020.

What is "Ash Wednesday?"
"Ash Wednesday" is a day of reflection and repentance from sin. It’s possible that you may see some people walking around with black marks on their foreheads on this particular day, as some Catholics and other Christians who observe this holiday mark their foreheads with ashes in the shape of a cross, publicly showing remorse for their sins.

When does Lent 2020 end?
Lent traditionally ends during "Holy Week," on "Holy Saturday." This means that Lent 2020 will end on Saturday, April 11, 2020 (establishing the 40 days of observation.) However, since 1969, Catholics now stop observing Lent on "Maundy Thursday" or "Holy Thursday," two days prior. For those following this practice, Lent will end on Thursday, April 7, 2020.

When is "Holy Week?"
"Holy Week" is the week leading up to Easter. The week begins on "Palm Sunday" (which is Sunday, April 5, 2020), it consists of other significant days such as "Maundy/Holy Thursday" and "Good Friday," and ends on "Holy Saturday," which is Saturday, April 11, 2020.

What is "Palm Sunday?"
"Palm Sunday" (also known as "Passion Sunday") celebrates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey. This is an important event that had been anticipated hundreds of years prior, with prophesies like, "Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey," (Zechariah 9:9) being written long before Jesus was born. The significance of "Palm" in the name of this day comes from the palm branches that were placed on the road in anticipation of Jesus’ arrival.

What is "Maundy" or "Holy Thursday?"
"Maundy" or "Holy Thursday" commemorates Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples, and takes place on Thursday, April 7, 2020.

What is "Good Friday?"
"Good Friday" is the Friday before Easter (Friday, April 10, 2020), and it signifies the day that Jesus was crucified. That, in and of itself, does not sound very "good." But as Pope Francis shared in his 2019 Lenten message, the period of time leading up to Easter is when Christians are "welcoming Christ’s victory over sin and death into our lives."

What is "Holy Saturday?"
"Holy Saturday," taking place on Saturday, April 11, 2020, commemorates the day that Jesus’ body lay in the tomb.