How many days of Lent are there?

40 days

As a good Catholic child, I was taught and always believed that Lent is 40 days, from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. It was always explained to me that in order to determine what day Ash Wednesday was, start with Easter Sunday and count backward 40 days. However, as a more cynical adult, I double checked one year to be sure, expecting not to find any discrepancy to the 40 day rule. I counted the days on a calender. There are 47 days of Lent, count them for yourself. I have not yet figured out why there was a week added to Lent, nor am I sure when it started. Looking back as far as 2005 and forward to 2009, Lent is and has been 47 days. I've asked several good, knowledgeable Catholics, and none had noticed nor had an explanation.

My personal unverified suspicion for the reason for this clandestine extension of the Lent season is that the Church has figured out that weekly attendance increases during the Lent season, as do revenues in the collection baskets. Extending the season by a week improves revenues that much more. Like so many other decision in the Churches history, I suspect that this decision is based wholly on selfish financial self-preservation (especially considering the threats of many many lawsuits against several dioceses across the US claiming the Church did not protect children from known predator pedophile Priests) and nothing to do with keeping or improving the faith of the Parishoners. Again, this is unsubstantiated, a verified reason/ explanation would be appreciated.

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