Each year, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent.  Lent is a 40-day season (not counting Sundays) that is marked by practices of repentance, fasting, and reflection and ends with the celebration of Easter. This 40-day period mirrors Christ’s time in the desert, where he fasted and experienced Satan’s attempts to tempt him to break his penance. During Lent believers set aside this time of the year acts penance and intentional setting aside special time to focus on Christ’s life, ministry, sacrifice, and resurrection.