The Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee recently witnessed the first Sunday of Lent with a gospel reading centered on the 40 days of fasting and temptation that Jesus endured in the desert.

From March 7 until Easter, Catholics will replicate Jesus's sacrifice during the 40 days of the Lenten season.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) said Lent was "a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter. During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; we serve by giving alms; and we practice self-control through fasting. We are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully."

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While many Catholics will not eat meat on Fridays during the Lent season, the USCCB reported that people should adhere to self-discipline in other avenues of their life.

The organization noted that Catholics should ponder "almsgiving," which means partaking your time and talents with other individuals in your inner circle.

Catholic Daily Readings reported that the gospel reading for the initial Sunday of Lent this year was Luke 4:1-13, which details Jesus' trip into the desert for 40 days where he prayed, fasted and fought off temptations from the devil by finding solace in Jesus.

The Lenten season lasts for 40 days to mirror Jesus' trip into the desert, which is consequential number in the bible, according to Catholic Culture, as the Great Flood written in Genesis took 40 days, Moses and his people wandered the desert for 40 days, and he abstained from eating for 40 days on Mount Sinai.

"The number 40 is found frequently in scripture to signify either a time of penitential preparation, or a time of punishment and affliction sent from God," according to Catholic Culture.