Christians worldwide begin Lenten season
(Feb.25,2009): - Christians worldwide on Ash Wednesday, February 25, began their 40-day Lenten period of fasting, prayer and almsgiving.On Ash Wednesday, the priest smears ashes on the foreheads of those present at Mass in Church, as a symbolic reminder that “dust we are and to dust we shall return.” Pope Benedict XVI was to hold the traditional evening Ash Wednesday ceremonies followed by Mass at Rome’s St. Sabina Basilica.
In his Lenten message for 2009 released earlier this month, Pope Benedict, speaking of the value and meaning of the Lenten period, called on Christians to fervent prayer, fasting and almsgiving. He said the practice of fasting helps to avoid sin and grow in intimacy with the Lord. At the same time, said the Pope’s Lenten message, fasting is an aid to open our eyes to the situation in which, so many of our poor brothers and sisters live. The Pope encouraged parishes and communities to intensify in Lent - the custom of private and communal fasts, and urged the faithful to give to the poor what had been set aside from their fast. The 40 day Lenten period culminates with Easter 12th April.
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