<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><mads xmlns="http://www.loc.gov/mads/" xmlns:mods="http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.loc.gov/mads/
mads.xsd"><authority><topic authority="http://AATesaurus.cultura.gencat.cat/aat/getty_en">Lent</topic></authority><related type="other"><topic>fasts</topic></related><related type="other"><topic>Easter</topic></related><related type="other"><topic>Lenten cloths</topic></related><related type="other"><topic>Lenten veils</topic></related><related type="broader"><topic>religious seasons</topic></related> <note xml:lang="en"><![CDATA[ In the Western Christian church, a period of penitential preparation for Easter that includes 40 weekdays extending from Ash-Wednesday to Easter-eve, observed as a time of fasting and penitence in imitation of Jesus Christ's fasting in the wilderness. In Eastern churches Lent begins Monday seven weeks before Easter and ends the Friday 9 days before Easter. This "Great Lent" allows that Saturdays and Sundays are relaxed fast days. ]]></note></mads>