“Each year, Lent offers us a providential opportunity to deepen the meaning and value of our Christian lives, and it stimulates us to rediscover the mercy of God so that we, in turn, become more merciful toward our brothers and sisters. In the Lenten period, the Church makes it her duty to propose some specific tasks that accompany the faithful concretely in this process of interior renewal: these are prayer, fasting and almsgiving.” (Pope Benedict XVI from MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI FOR LENT 2008)
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The first day of Lent is today, Ash Wednesday.
We follow the example of the people of Nineveh, who did penance in sackcloth and ashes. On Ash Wednesday the Church helps us to humble our pride by reminding us that the consequence of sin is of a death sentence. She sprinkles our head with ashes and says:
We follow the example of the people of Nineveh, who did penance in sackcloth and ashes. On Ash Wednesday the Church helps us to humble our pride by reminding us that the consequence of sin is of a death sentence. She sprinkles our head with ashes and says:
"Remember, man, that thou art dust, and unto dust shalt thou return."
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