Christians around the world enter a season of sacrifice, prayer, and renewal as Ash Wednesday ushers in Lent on March 5.
Lent serves as a solemn 40-day period that prepares Christians for Easter Sunday, offering time to reflect on Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection.
Pope Gregory I officially formalized the observance in 601 AD, giving Lent deep historical roots.
This year’s sacred period of reflection coincides with Pope Francis’ ongoing health struggles, as the Vatican confirmed his hospitalization due to respiratory complications.
The 88-year-old pontiff has endured two episodes of “acute respiratory insufficiency,” prompting medical interventions to clear his airways.
Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, stands out for the ash crosses that priests place on worshipers’ foreheads, symbolizing repentance and devotion.
During this season, churches burn palm branches from the previous year’s Palm Sunday to create the ashes, reminding believers of human mortality and the need for spiritual renewal.
Catholics observe Lent through fasting, abstinence, and acts of charity.
On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, they limit food intake and refrain from eating meat, continuing this practice on all Fridays during Lent.
Lent begins on March 5 and concludes on Holy Thursday, April 17, symbolizing the 40 days Jesus spent fasting and praying in the desert before beginning His public ministry.
This sacred journey leads to Easter Sunday, the pinnacle of the Christian faith, celebrating His resurrection.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.