Lent, also called the Lenten Season and Great Lent, is a time to remind us of Jesus' 40 days of trial of fasting and temptation in the desert. The season of Lent is a liturgical period of forty days of fasting and prayer before Easter, but in today's society the question arises whether Lent is still defined this way or whether the definition has changed . The season of Lent takes place immediately after the Feast of Epiphany. Liturgically, Lent lasts 48 days starting on Ash Wednesday before the Easter Triduum. Traditionally, the Lenten fast is observed for 40 days, from Ash Wednesday until Holy Week. Sundays were excluded from the Lenten fast because Sunday is a feast of the resurrection of our Lord. However, Sundays in Lent are still part of the liturgical season of Lent in the Western Church and worship services tend to be more low-key. The Gloria and the joyful “Hallelujahs!” are not spoken during Lent until Easter time. The liturgical color of Lent is purple and symbolizes royalty and remorse. To mark the state of mourning, on Maundy Thursday, the altar is dismantled and on Good Friday, the altars and pastors are dressed in black. The Churches have not completely deviated from their teaching of Lent. Lent is meant to help us prepare for the resurrection of our Lord and it symbolizes the test of fasting and Christ's temptation in the desert. The problem is not the teachings of the Church, but the way Church members practice the traditions of Great Lent and the rejection of the five points of the true purpose of Lent. The five points of the true purpose of Lent are fasting, spiritual growth, self-denial. , conversion and simplicity. These five points are something that can help...... middle of paper ...... first point, we must remember that Lent is more than a time for personal self-gratification. Lent is about spiritual outcomes, not material outcomes. This means that any fasting we do should be done for the glory of God and our spiritual growth. The most important thing to remember when celebrating Lent is that while practices may vary among different faiths, the goal remains the same: to repent of our sins, renew our faith, and prepare to celebrate with joy the mysteries of our salvation. Works Cited Bennett, Jonathan and David Bennett. “What is Lent and the Lenten season?.” The season of Lent. Np, February 24, 2013. Web. April 17, 2014. “Lent.” - Religious facts. Np, and Web. April 17, 2014. .New international version. Biblical gateway. Internet. October 25. 2012.