Today Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the 40 days of Lent, a most solemn season for Christians.
This morning at the celebration of the daily Mass in the Catholic Church, ashes from the burning of palm leaves from Palm Sunday last year were applied by priests on the forehead of parishioners with a reminder that they are made of dust and to dust they shall return.
Throughout the Lenten Season Catholics are encouraged to make prayer a central part of their daily living, give up things that they love such as food or entertainment, and do works of charity.
Catholics also abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and every Friday of Lent. The practice is also observed by other Christian churches.
