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.
