Ash Wednesday, which takes place on February 26 this year, has a distinctive focus for Christians in their spiritual lives.
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However, in the first three centuries of the Christian church, lent did not last more than two or three days. The first mention of lent lasting 40 days is in the Canons of Nicea, in 325 AD.
It came about as a time of spiritual preparation for those seeking to become Christians, preparing for baptism during the Easter Vigil ceremonies. Forty would have been arrived on due to the 40 days fast of Moses, Elijah, and especially of Jesus himself.
During lent, those seeking to become Christians were instructed in the elements of the faith. Then, during Easter week, they were introduced into the deeper mysteries of Christianity.
Though primarily intended for baptism candidates, the lenten fast soon spread to the whole church. It became a period when, apart from fasting, Christians refrained from festivities and gave themselves up to penance, almsgiving and devotion.
So why do Christians have ashes placed on the foreheads in the sign of a cross on Ash Wednesday?
Christians believe that from dust God created us, and to dust we will return. God breathed life into this dust and formed us. We remember we are from dust as a sign of humility, and in recognition that God alone has the power to sustain life.
For the Christian, it's in humility that we experience salvation. Just as we are formed from dust we shall return. From this dust we will rise again to die no more, when we experience the power of the resurrection.
During lent, it's custom to give up something, or to do something extra, as a sign of penance. This is important, as it helps us focus on our spiritual lives and intentions.
I would like to conclude with a lenten prayer: O God, whose blessed son did suffer for all humanity: Grant unto us that, rightly observing this holy season, we may learn to know thee better, to love thee more, and to serve thee with a more perfect will: through the same Jesus Christ our lord. Amen.