Lent, a significant period in the Christian calendar, begins today, March 5, 2025, with Ash Wednesday, marking 40 days of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving leading up to Easter on April 20.
Christians worldwide will attend services to receive ashes, symbolizing repentance and mortality. The Lenten season mirrors Jesus Christ’s 40-day fast in the desert, emphasizing spiritual reflection and sacrifice.
During Lent, many abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays, while others give up personal luxuries. Prayer and acts of charity are also central to the observance.
Pope Francis has urged believers to detach from distractions and focus on faith, while the Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan has highlighted the shared values of fasting in both Christianity and Islam.
