Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent

“Ash Wednesday is ‘a day of God’s care and God’s mercy on us”, said Fr. Clarence D’Souza S.J. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lenten season in the Catholic Church Liturgical calendar. On this day people spend time in prayer, fasting, abstinence and almsgiving. Ashes are imposed on foreheads or tonsure spots in the sign of the Cross as a sign of repentance before God and a reminder of human mortality. While imposing ashes the priest said, “Remember that thou art dust, and to dust thou shall return” (Gen 3: 19) or “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” (Jer 6: 26). Ash Wednesday is a symbolic commemoration of Christ’s 40 days of temptation in the desert, allowing 40 days to prepare for the celebration of His passion, death and resurrection. Fr. Clarence said, “The greatest challenge for us is to love God and to love one another during this season and everyday in our lives”. He encourages that as Christians we should walk with God who walk with us.