Why does Lent last 40 days?
Forty
is a standard Biblical number meaning a long time, like the
Hebrews' 40 years in the wilderness after the exodus, and
Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness after his baptism. Those examples
suggest a time of preparation. The wilderness wandering prepared
the Hebrews to enter the promised land of Canaan. Jesus' time
in the wilderness prepared him for a ministry as Messiah. Lent,
then, was one of the Church's two seasons of preparation for
baptism. The other was the season of Advent, which originally
was 40 days leading up to Epiphany.
Lent
traditionally ends with the sacrament of baptism on Easter
Eve or on Easter Morning.
The original aim was to use the 40 days for intensive preparation
of candidates for baptism.
