WEDNESDAY / 1ST DAY OF LENT BEGINS
[PHOTO - A Roman Catholic nun uses
ash to mark a cross on the forehead of a believer during Ash Wednesday in front
of a Catholic church in Paranaque city Feb. 22, 2012. Ash Wednesday marks the
beginning of the season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection and
fasting which prepares believers for Jesus Christ's resurrection on Easter
Sunday. Source: Reuters]
MANILA,
FEBRUARY 23, 2012
(ABS-CBN) Millions of Roman Catholic Filipinos trooped to
churches today for Ash Wednesday, signalling the start of the Lenten season.
Masses were held continuously throughout the day, as Catholic churches were
filled with people from different walks of life, lining up to get their
foreheads marked with ash.
Among them is Boy Caña, who said he religiously attends Mass every Ash
Wednesday.
"Nakaka touch siya eh, kinikilabutan ako," he said. "Lahat naman ng tao
nagkakasala ang mahalaga 'yung pagsisi."
According to Church tradition, the practice of placing ash on the foreheads
of the faithful is a sign of mourning and repentance to God. The ashes used are
supposed to have been gathered from the burned fronds from the previous year's
Palm Sunday.
Fr. Joel Buenviaje, assistant parish priest of the St. Peter's Parish and
Shrine, explained the special meaning behind the use of the ash.
"Reminder 'yan sa atin na tayo ay alabok, at babalik din sa alabok, so it
keeps us humble," the priest said.
He said he is elated that many young people are still following this Church
tradition, especially during these times of great uncertainty.
"In the midst of turmoil, of disasters both natural and man-made, kailangan
tayo mag-reflect at magbalik loob sa Diyos," Fr. Buenviaje said.
The Lenten season ends on Easter Sunday on April 8. Report from Atom Araullo, ABS-CBN News
Ash Wednesday: The First Day of Lent Begins
[PHOTOS FROM INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS NEWES ONLINE] By Ankita Mehta |
Feb 22, 2012 02:40 AM EDT
[PHOTO - A Roman Catholic priest applies ashes in the sign of a cross
to the forehead of a student during a mass in observance of Ash Wednesday, Feb.
22, 2012 in a Catholic church in suburban Quezon City north of Manila,
Philippines. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a time when Christians
prepare for Easter through acts of penitence and prayer Source: Press Association]
Wednesday, Feb. 22, marks the start of Lent which occurs 46 days before
Easter.
Filipino Catholics gathered to churches early Wednesday to celebrate the
first day of Lent, a 40-day period of prayer and fasting for Christmas, by
applying ash on their forehead.
Before the beginning public ministry, during which Jesus resisted temptation
by Satan, he spent 40 days fasting in the desert, according to the canonical
gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.
The name Ash Wednesday is derived from the practice of dabbing ash on the
foreheads of adherents as a sign of mourning and repentance to God.
The ashes used for dabbing are generally collected after dried palms from the
previous year's Palm Sunday are burned.
However, this year churches are buying commercially produced ashes online.
"We just had a call 10 minutes ago," Mark Gould, owner of Religious Supply
Service in Davenport, Iowa told Los Angeles Times. "We've had them all day
long."
This practice is common among Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans,
Episcopalians, United Methodists and Presbyterians.
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
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