Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent for people of Christian faith. Each year, Catholics, Lutherans and other denominations around the world observe the 40-day period of self-sacrifice and discipline. The observance begins on Ash Wednesday ...

A devotee with an ash cross on her forehead prays during Ash Wednesday rites March 5, 2025 at the Redemptorist Church in Manila, Philippines as Catholics in this predominantly Roman Catholic nation observe the start of lent.

Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent, is on March 5, 2025. Lent is a period of prayer, fasting, and giving for Christians. Ashes represent death and repentance, reminding Christians of human mortality.

As it has done for the last several years, St. Hugh of Lincoln Episcopal Church in Elgin has offered Christians a unique way to start the Lenten season by dispensing ashes via a drive-thru lane

The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver held Ash Wednesday services on March 5, 2025. Ash Wednesday is a holy day of prayer and fasting in many Western Christian denominations. It is preceded by Shrove Tuesday and marks the first day of Lent, the six weeks of penitence before Easter, which falls on April 20 this year.

New York’s Catholics observe the start of Lent throughout the city on Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Today marks the beginning of Christianity’s 40 days of prayer, fasting and giving