 FACT: Matt gives up sexual contact etc. for Lent hence 40 days and  forty nights, but the season of lent (Ash Wednesday to Easter  Sunday) is 46 days and 46 nights because Sundays are not counted. If  Matt gave sex up for Lent, he would go 46 days and nights in a row  without sex. If (as is listed at the bottom of the screen as "day #  blank") he only went 40 days and 40 nights, he would be cutting out  the Sundays and could do what he so desired with those days.