Ash Wednesday marks beginning of Lent Featured photos from The Jersey Journal Thursday Feb. 23 Vandals deface Catholic church on Ashes to service comes the people outside Secaucus train station Photo Where did this American come Pope leads solemn Worshippers mark start Nigeria Faithful Mark Lenten Period Commences With St. Viator cheerleaders show off state title trophy Churches bring go Priests offer ritual commuters Photos Ohio offers drivethru for Top news 22 Tibetan students stage hunger strike 'Ashes Go' expands suburbs 21 states

Pope's Ash Wednesday Homily ROME, FEB. 23, 2012 ( Zenit.org ).- Here is a translation of the homily Benedict XVI gave Wednesday evening, when he celebrated Ash Wednesday Mass at the Basilica of Santa Sabina. Ash Wednesday: Local faithful mark beginning of Lent In the bayou communities of Terrebonne and Lafourche, fresh from two weeks of excess and Mardi Gras parades, Catholics and members of other Christian denominations take part today in a centuries-old rite of penitence that leaves an outward sign of devotion and faith. Ash Wednesday For Rookies You can tell that Newt Gingrich, a late in life convert, was not brought up Catholic. Gingrich told reporters Wednesday he did not go to Ash Wednesday service because it was not a holy day of obligation in the Catholic Church. This was a political mistake. If you are running for the GOP presidential nomination these days you can't be rolling in the holy enough . What Gingrich should have done ... Ash Wednesday drive-through offered by Ohio church Also, the Ashes to Go program has clergy members offering ashes outside commuter trains, at bus stops and on street corners across the country Ash Wednesday services inspire faithful HUNTLEY – "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return." Ash Wednesday prepares us for forgiveness Lent begins with the words of Psalm 51: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin." Ash Wednesday begins a time for 'spiritual spring cleaning' Ash Wednesday begins the Lenten season—a time of personal and spiritual reflection for Christians, said Rev. James Cesta of St. Mary of Mount Carmel/Blessed Sacrament Parish, at mass Wednesday."It's a time of spiritual spring cleaning for our heart, our mind and our spirit." Christians mark Ash Wednesday The Lenten season is under way for Christians around the world. Ash Wednesday marked the start of Lent, which helps spiritually prepare Christians for Easter on April 8. Ash Wednesday service in Visalia kicks off Lent Ashes are distributed at St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Visalia on Ash Wednesday. Photo by Teresa Douglass Church marks Ash Wednesday The Inter-Mountain photo by Beth Christian Broschart The Very Rev. Donald X. Higgs places ashes on Susan Channell's forehead during Ash Wednesday services at St. Brendan Catholic Church in Elkins.
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References:
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/02/22/lenten-journey-begins-today-for-most-christians_.html
http://dailyherald.com/article/20120222/news/702229637/
http://pixelhat.net/