1. By: Jade Garcia, Carolina Cardenas, Megan Moberly, and Samantha Bello February 12, 2013 Period 4.

2. What is Lent? -The period of 40 weekdays that in the Christian Church is devoted to fasting, abstinence, and penitence. -Lent is the Christian season of preparation before Easter. In Western Christian Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter (Sundays are not included in the count). -Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ - his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection.

3. When does it start and end? Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday.

4. The Purpose of Lent From Ash Wednesday to Easter, many solemnly mark their foreheads with ash, “fasting” (or abstaining from certain foods or physical pleasures) for 40 days. This is done to supposedly imitate Jesus Christ’s 40-day fast in the wilderness (Matt. 4:1-2). Some give up smoking. Others give up chewing gum. Still others give up over-eating or cursing. People vow to give up anything, as long as it prepares them for Easter.

5. What is Ash Wednesday and why? Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent for Western Christian churches. It's a day of penitence to clean the soul before the Lent fast. Many churches as well as Catholic and Christian hold special services at which the worshipers are marked and blessed with ashes in the shape of a cross as a symbol of death, and sorrow for sin. The ashes represent our mortality and are an outward sign of our sinfulness. When we look in the mirror on Ash Wednesday and see that black smudge on our forehead, we should be reminded that no matter what, we are still sinners in need of constant conversion. It is the Church calling us back once again to the graces of our baptism, to do penance, and amend our lives as we approach the greatest celebration in the Church – Easter.