Christians observe Ash Wednesday, usher in 40-day season of Lent

Christians throughout the region streamed into churches on Wednesday to observe Ash Wednesday, the ritual that ushers in the 40-day season of Lent, when the faithful prepare for Easter by doing penance for sins and seeking spiritual renewal through prayer, discipline and good works.

Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church and Holy Trinity Catholic Church, both in San Pedro, offered back-to-back Ash Wednesday Masses throughout the day and into the evening.

• PHOTOS: Ash Wednesday observance at Mary Star of the Sea in San Pedro

Some 6,000 to 8,000 worshipers were expected at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Wilmington, where Ash Wednesday services were scheduled from 4-9 p.m. The Ash Wednesday services are among the most attended throughout the year at the parish, which celebrated its 150th year in 2015.

Ash Wednesday gets its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of the faithful as a sign of penance. A minister or priest marks the forehead of each participant with black ashes in the shape of a cross.

In the Roman Catholic church, individuals are told as the ashes are applied to their foreheads, “Tu from sin and live the Gospel.” Other words usually spoken in the rite are “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” and “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall retu.”

Ash Wednesday reminds believers of their sinfulness, mortality and the need to repent.

Catholics observe Ash Wednesday by fasting, abstaining from meat and repenting. Other Christian denominations make fasting optional, with the main focus being on repentance.

Ash Wednesday also is observed in Orthodox, Anglican, Methodist, Lutheran and some Presbyterian churches. But many Protestant denominations do not take part in the liturgical rite although it has experienced an uptick in practice among some evangelicals and nondenominational churches.

In recent years, the “Ashes to Go” format has taken some clergy out into the streets, parks and other public gathering places to observe the aual start of Lent, meant to mirror the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert fasting and enduring temptation.

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The ashes traditionally are made from the palm branches that were blessed on the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebration marking Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where he was later crucified.

Lent is the 40-day period — excluding Sundays — leading up to Easter Sunday, which this year falls on March 27.

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