Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent in the Catholic Church
Ash Wednesday, which falls on the seventh Wednesday before Easter, is a day of fasting, prayer, and repentance for Catholics around the world.
It is a time of reflection on one’s sins and a renewed commitment to living a life of faith.
Catholics attend Mass on Ash Wednesday to receive ashes on their foreheads in the shape of a cross, as a reminder of their mortality and the need for repentance.
The ashes used on Ash Wednesday are typically made from the palm branches that were blessed on Palm Sunday the previous year.
During Lent, Catholics are called to fast, abstain from meat on Fridays, and increase their prayer and charitable works.
Lent is a season of penance and self-denial, where Catholics seek to grow closer to God through acts of humility and sacrifice.
Ash Wednesday sets the tone for the Lenten season, reminding Catholics of their need for conversion and renewal.
As the ashes are placed on their foreheads, Catholics hear the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
This solemn reminder of our mortality serves as a powerful motivator for Catholics to turn away from sin and towards a life of holiness during the Lenten season.