Lent · February 10 – March 25, 2027

Lent 2027

Lent 2027 begins on Ash Wednesday, February 10, 2027, and leads to Easter on Sunday, March 28, 2027. Forty days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, in the desert with Christ.

Ash Wednesday, February 10, 2027: fasting and abstinence. Every Friday of Lent is a day of abstinence from meat.

Joel 2:12 (WEB)“Yet even now,” says the LORD, “turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.”

The dates, Lent and Easter 2027

Ash WednesdayWednesday, February 10, 2027 · Lent begins; fasting and abstinence
First Sunday of LentSunday, February 14, 2027 · Jesus tempted in the desert
Laetare SundaySunday, March 7, 2027 · Halfway; rose vestments
St JosephFriday, March 19, 2027 · A solemnity, on a Friday of Lent this year
Palm SundaySunday, March 21, 2027 · Holy Week begins
Holy ThursdayThursday, March 25, 2027 · Lent ends; the Mass of the Lord's Supper begins the Triduum
Good FridayFriday, March 26, 2027 · Fasting and abstinence
Holy SaturdaySaturday, March 27, 2027 · The Easter Vigil after nightfall
Easter SundaySunday, March 28, 2027 · The Resurrection of the Lord
Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday)Sunday, April 4, 2027 · The octave day of Easter
The AnnunciationMonday, April 5, 2027 · Moved from March 25, which is Holy Thursday this year

Fasting and abstinence, in plain words

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting and abstinence.
Fasting binds Catholics from their 18th birthday until their 59th: one full meal, and two smaller meals that together do not equal a full one, with nothing between meals.
Abstinence binds everyone from age 14: no meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and every Friday of Lent. Fish, eggs and dairy are allowed.
The sick, pregnant or nursing mothers, and anyone whose health or work requires it are excused from fasting.

Fridays of Lent 2027 (no meat): Feb 12, Feb 19, Feb 26, Mar 5, Mar 12, Mar 19, and Good Friday. On March 19, the Solemnity of St Joseph, the Friday abstinence is lifted by church law; many keep it anyway.

Prayer, fasting, almsgiving

The Gospel of Ash Wednesday gives Lent its three works, and asks that all three be done quietly, for the Father who sees in secret.

Matthew 6:6 (WEB)But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Prayer: one fixed time a day, kept. The Stations of the Cross on Fridays; the Sorrowful Mysteries.
Fasting: beyond the two fast days, give up something you will miss, and let the hunger turn you toward God.
Almsgiving: give away what the fast saves, in money or in time.
Confession: most parishes add hours in Lent. Why Catholics confess to a priest →

The prayer of Ash Wednesday

The collect of Ash Wednesday in the Missal of 1962:

LatinPraesta, Domine, fidelibus tuis: ut ieiuniorum veneranda sollemnia, et congrua pietate suscipiant, et secura devotione percurrant. Per Dominum nostrum.

Our translationGrant, O Lord, to your faithful that they may take up the venerable solemnity of the fast with fitting devotion, and run its course with untroubled hearts. Through our Lord.

Lent 40 in the app

Liturgical Living's free Lent 40 challenge suggests one prayer for each day of Lent, with the Stations on Fridays, and keeps count without guilt if you miss a day.

Lent 2027 questions

When does Lent start in 2027?

On Ash Wednesday, February 10, 2027. Lent runs until the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, March 25.

When is Easter 2027?

Sunday, March 28, 2027.

What are the fasting rules for Lent?

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting and abstinence. Fasting binds Catholics from their 18th birthday until their 59th: one full meal, and two smaller meals that together do not equal a full one, with nothing between meals. Abstinence binds everyone from age 14: no meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and every Friday of Lent. Fish, eggs and dairy are allowed. The sick, pregnant or nursing mothers, and anyone whose health or work requires it are excused from fasting.

Which Fridays are meatless in Lent 2027?

Every Friday of Lent: Feb 12, Feb 19, Feb 26, Mar 5, Mar 12, Mar 19, and Good Friday, Mar 26. March 19 is the Solemnity of St Joseph, and church law lifts the Friday abstinence on a solemnity, though many keep it anyway.

Do Sundays count in the forty days?

The forty days are counted from the First Sunday of Lent to Holy Thursday, the ancient number. Sundays are always feasts of the Resurrection; whether to keep a personal Lenten sacrifice on them is a matter of custom, not law.

Is Ash Wednesday a holy day of obligation?

No. Ashes are not required and anyone may receive them, but Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence.

Lent 40: one prayer a day from Ash Wednesday, the Stations on Fridays. Free, no subscription needed to pray.