Ash Wednesday Marks the Beginning of Lent

Ash Wednesday, the solemn day that marks the beginning of Lent, was observed on 5 March, with special services held at St John the Baptist Cathedral in Norwich and in parishes across the Diocese.

The day serves as a powerful reminder of human mortality and the need for repentance, ushering in a season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving in preparation for Easter.

At St John the Baptist Cathedral, the faithful gathered for Masses throughout the day, where ashes were blessed and distributed in a centuries-old tradition. The ashes, made from the burnt palm branches of the previous year’s Palm Sunday, were applied to the foreheads of worshippers in the shape of a cross, accompanied by the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” These words serve as a profound call to spiritual renewal and a reminder of the transient nature of earthly life.

Fr Alan Hodgson celebrated the principal Ash Wednesday Mass at the Cathedral, urging the congregation to embrace the Lenten season with sincerity and devotion. 

Similar services were held in parishes across the Diocese, from Ipswich to Peterborough and from King’s Lynn to Cambridge, as Catholics of all ages came together to begin their Lenten journey. Many schools also held special liturgies, ensuring that young people were engaged in the meaning and traditions of this sacred season.

Lent, which lasts for 40 days (excluding Sundays), is a period of spiritual discipline and preparation for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection at Easter. It is a time when Catholics are encouraged to deepen their faith through acts of penance, charitable giving, and personal sacrifice. Many choose to give up certain luxuries or take on additional acts of service as a way of growing in holiness.

As the Diocese of East Anglia embarks on this Lenten season, the faithful are invited to participate in the various opportunities for prayer, reflection, and reconciliation. With hearts renewed and strengthened by God’s grace, the journey through Lent leads ultimately to the joy and hope of Easter Sunday.

More photographs from the Solemn Mass at the Cathedral on Ash Wednesday can be viewed here.

Comments