Lent is an abbreviation of the word 'lengthening', since Lent is a season which occurs as the days of winter lengthen into days of spring.It's a season of six weeks where the Christian liturgy helps catechumens to complete their preparation for initiation to the Church at Easter Vigil.Simultaneously, the faithful, already initiated, seek to cultivate a new level of repentance with Lenten disciplines of fasting, prayer and almsgiving.Both catechumens and the faithful are anticipating the opportunity to profess baptismal promises at Easter as we celebrate the Paschal Mystery (Christ's Last Supper, His passion, death, resurrection, ascension and Pentecost).