Lent

Lent is a solemn religious observance in the Catholic liturgical calendar that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends approximately six weeks later, before Easter Sunday. The purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer for Easter through prayer, repentance of sins, penance, fasting, and almsgiving.
The last week of Lent is Holy Week, starting with Palm Sunday.  Jesus' last supper is remembered on Holy Thursday, his crucifixion is commemorated on Good Friday, and at the beginning of the next week the joyful celebration of Easter Sunday recalls the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Lent is traditionally described as lasting for 40 days, in commemoration of the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert, according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, before beginning his public ministry, during which he endured temptation by Satan.
The number 40 has many Biblical references:

• Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai with God (Exodus 24:18).
• Elijah spent 40 days and nights walking to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8).
• God sent 40 days and nights of rain in the great flood of Noah (Genesis 7:4).
• The Hebrew people wandered 40 years in the desert while traveling to the Promised Land (Numbers 14:33).
• Jonah's prophecy of judgment gave 40 days to the city of Nineveh in which to repent or be destroyed (Jonah 3:4).
• Jesus retreated into the wilderness, where he fasted for 40 days, and was tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1–2, Mark 1:12–13, Luke 4:1–2). Jesus further said that his disciples will fast "when the bridegroom shall be taken from them" (Matthew 9:15), a reference to his Passion. Since, presumably, the Apostles fasted as they mourned the death of Jesus, Christians have traditionally fasted during the annual commemoration of his burial.
• Some early Christians believed belief that Jesus lay for 40 hours in the tomb,^[which led to the 40 hours of total fasting that preceded the Easter celebration in the early Church (the biblical reference to 'three days in the tomb' is understood by them as spanning three days, from Friday afternoon to early Sunday morning, rather than three 24-hour periods of time).

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MISSION STATEMENT

In God's love, the Eucharistic community of St. Teresa of Avila, Auburn, embraces and welcomes all as part of God's family.  We value every parishioner and strive to reflect the mercy, forgiveness, and healing of Jesus Christ.