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On this day, Catholics gather to receive ashes on their foreheads in the sign of the cross.  As the ashes are placed, we hear the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return,” or “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”  These words remind us of two essential truths: our need for God’s mercy and the saving love of Jesus Christ.   

The ashes, made from the blessed palms of the previous year’s Palm Sunday, symbolise repentance and humility.  Throughout Scripture, ashes are a sign of sorrow for sin and a desire for conversion of heart.   

Lent lasts for 40 days, recalling the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert.  During this sacred season, the Church invites us to deepen our relationship with God through three traditional practices: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. 

• Prayer draws us closer to the Lord.  We are encouraged to spend more time in personal prayer, participate in the Stations of the Cross, and reflect more deeply on Sacred Scripture. 

• Fasting helps us practice self-discipline and detachment from worldly comforts.  On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are required to fast (one full meal and two smaller meals that together do not equal a full meal).  Catholics age 14 and older abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays of Lent. 

• Almsgiving expresses our love for others, especially those in need.  Through acts of charity, generosity, and service, we share the blessings God has given us. 

Lent is not merely a season of giving things up; it is a time of spiritual renewal.  By turning away from sin and turning toward Christ, we prepare our hearts to celebrate the joy of the Resurrection at Easter.  May this Lenten season be a time of grace, conversion, and hope for our entire parish community.