Catholics flock to churches on Ash Wednesday, marking start of Lent

Filipino Catholics flocked to churches early Wednesday to have their foreheads dabbed with ash to start Lent, the 40-day period marking Jesus Christ's passion and death.

 

Some Filipinos attended the predawn Masses and lined up to have their foreheads marked with ash by priests, who reminded them that "From dust you came, to dust you shall return."

 

In Baclaran, people crowded the Redemptorist Church to hear early morning Mass and lined up to wait for the priest to make the sign of the Cross on their foreheads with the ash.

 

A report on "Unang Balita" said the church had to set up designated lines to accommodate the queues, as the priest admitted the church could not accommodate all those who want to have their foreheads marked with ash.

 

On the other hand, the head of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines reminded Filipinos to observe Lent "meaningfully."

 

CBCP president and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said the 40-day period should be an opportunity for “spiritual renewal” of people.

 

"The most important thing for us to do during the Lenten Season is to reflect on God's love ... I can only hope we will all be renewed especially when we get to appreciate our dignity as children of God,” he said in an article posted Wednesday on the CBCP news site.

 

Palma reminded Christians to focus on changing their lives through prayer, penance, and love.

 

The Lenten season, he said, aims to help people make that renewal in the best way they can.

 

“We are all weak as human beings that we are but we are always given a chance to be renewed. May the Season of Lent grant us the grace of interior renewal,” Palma said.

 

The Catholic church is also encouraging Catholics to attend Mass on Ash Wednesday.

 

"While Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation, all Catholics are encouraged to attend Mass on this day in order to mark the beginning of the Lenten season," the CBCP said. Meanwhile, in his pastoral letter for Ash Wednesday, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle appealed for donations for "HAPAG-ASA," an anti-hunger program aiming to raise P40 million to feed 40,000 children –KG, GMA News