Do you know, that fasting is very good for the body, and helps to improve your health, mind, body, and spirit as we enter Lent season 2025 we at WorldSocio encourage both Christian believers and none Christians to try and observe Lent, fast to improve your health, fast to love one God, pray for the world and respect all humanity irrespective of one religion. Click Here to join worldsocio for more incentives.
Ash Wednesday is observed mostly by Catholics, Lutherans, Moravians, Anglicans, and United Protestants, as well as by some churches in the Reformed, (including certain Congregationalist, Continental Reformed, and Presbyterian churches), Baptist, Methodist, and Nazarene traditions.
Ash Wednesday is traditionally observed with fasting and abstinence from meat in several Christian denominations. As it is the first day of Lent, many Christians begin Ash Wednesday by marking a Lenten calendar, praying a Lenten daily devotional, and making a Lenten sacrifice that they will not partake of until the arrival of Eastertide.
Many Christians attend special Ash Wednesday church services at which churchgoers receive ash on their foreheads or the top of their heads, as the wearing of ashes was a sign of repentance in biblical times.
Ash Wednesday is always 46 days before Easter. Easter is determined as the Sunday following the first full moon that happens on or after the March equinox (which is always 21 March).
Which days are enumerated as being part of Lent differs between denominations, although in all of them, Lent is described as lasting for a total duration of 40 days, the number of days Jesus, as well as Moses and Elijah, went without food in their respective fasts.
In Lent-observing Western Christian denominations, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends approximately six weeks later; depending on the Christian denomination and local custom, Lent concludes either on the evening of Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) or at sundown on Holy Saturday, when the Easter Vigil is celebrated, though in either case, Lenten fasting observances are maintained until the evening of Holy Saturday. Sundays may or may not be excluded, depending on the denomination as well as individual choice of practice as it is present in today's worshipers.
Lent is a period of grief that necessarily ends with a great celebration of Easter. Thus, it is known in Eastern Orthodox circles as the season of "bright sadness". The purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer for Easter through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving (the three pillars of Lent), as well as mortifying the flesh, repentance of sins, simple living, and self-denial.
In Lent, many Christians commit to fasting, as well as giving up certain luxuries in imitation of Christ's sacrifice during his journey into the desert for 40 days; this is known as one's Lenten sacrifice.
Many Lent-observing Christians also add a Lenten spiritual discipline, such as reading a daily devotional or praying through a Lenten calendar, to draw themselves near to God. Often observed are the Stations of the Cross, a devotional commemoration of Christ's carrying the Cross and crucifixion.
Though the season is familiar, we must approach it and live it with new minds and expectations. This is because the grace and mercy of God are “new every morning” (Lam. 3:22-23).
So, He has designed this Lenten season as a new and different encounter. And in this encounter, much depends on our disposition. We know that every encounter with Jesus brings about a positive result. We will recall the encounter of the first disciples of Jesus in Jn. 1:35-51; Zacchaeus in Lk. 19:1-10; the two blind men in Matt. 20:29-34; the Canaanite woman in Matt. 15;21- 28; the paralytic in Mk. 2:1-12; the demoniacs in Lk. 8:26-39; the ten lepers in Lk. 17:11-19.
All of these and other encounters with Jesus always bring about a change, a positive change, and a better life. A good disposition towards this Lenten season will bring us this encounter that will definitely yield fruitful spiritual growth and abundant blessings.
• Most Rev.(Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins is the Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos. In West Africa Nigeria we all here at WorldSocio encourage everyone to join, love one another, and observe Lent season 2025
Get access to the Whatsapp Bulk Sender Application here and discover easy but simple ways you can promote your business products and services among active WhatsApp users, build a Whatsapp list, and keep growing your business even during and after Lent season. stay loved
About ASH WEDNESDAY
As reported, Ash Wednesday is a holy day of prayer and fasting in many Christian denominations. It marks the first day of Lent, the six weeks of penitence before Easter Sunday.Ash Wednesday is observed mostly by Catholics, Lutherans, Moravians, Anglicans, and United Protestants, as well as by some churches in the Reformed, (including certain Congregationalist, Continental Reformed, and Presbyterian churches), Baptist, Methodist, and Nazarene traditions.
Ash Wednesday is traditionally observed with fasting and abstinence from meat in several Christian denominations. As it is the first day of Lent, many Christians begin Ash Wednesday by marking a Lenten calendar, praying a Lenten daily devotional, and making a Lenten sacrifice that they will not partake of until the arrival of Eastertide.
Many Christians attend special Ash Wednesday church services at which churchgoers receive ash on their foreheads or the top of their heads, as the wearing of ashes was a sign of repentance in biblical times.
Ash Wednesday is always 46 days before Easter. Easter is determined as the Sunday following the first full moon that happens on or after the March equinox (which is always 21 March).
On LENT
Lent is the solemn Christian religious observance in the liturgical year in preparation for Easter. It echoes the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert and enduring temptation by Satan, according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, before beginning his public ministry.Which days are enumerated as being part of Lent differs between denominations, although in all of them, Lent is described as lasting for a total duration of 40 days, the number of days Jesus, as well as Moses and Elijah, went without food in their respective fasts.
In Lent-observing Western Christian denominations, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends approximately six weeks later; depending on the Christian denomination and local custom, Lent concludes either on the evening of Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) or at sundown on Holy Saturday, when the Easter Vigil is celebrated, though in either case, Lenten fasting observances are maintained until the evening of Holy Saturday. Sundays may or may not be excluded, depending on the denomination as well as individual choice of practice as it is present in today's worshipers.
Lent is a period of grief that necessarily ends with a great celebration of Easter. Thus, it is known in Eastern Orthodox circles as the season of "bright sadness". The purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer for Easter through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving (the three pillars of Lent), as well as mortifying the flesh, repentance of sins, simple living, and self-denial.
In Lent, many Christians commit to fasting, as well as giving up certain luxuries in imitation of Christ's sacrifice during his journey into the desert for 40 days; this is known as one's Lenten sacrifice.
Many Lent-observing Christians also add a Lenten spiritual discipline, such as reading a daily devotional or praying through a Lenten calendar, to draw themselves near to God. Often observed are the Stations of the Cross, a devotional commemoration of Christ's carrying the Cross and crucifixion.
As We Enter Yet another Lenten Season
Most Rev.(Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, March 3, 2025, wrote in quotes belowThough the season is familiar, we must approach it and live it with new minds and expectations. This is because the grace and mercy of God are “new every morning” (Lam. 3:22-23).
So, He has designed this Lenten season as a new and different encounter. And in this encounter, much depends on our disposition. We know that every encounter with Jesus brings about a positive result. We will recall the encounter of the first disciples of Jesus in Jn. 1:35-51; Zacchaeus in Lk. 19:1-10; the two blind men in Matt. 20:29-34; the Canaanite woman in Matt. 15;21- 28; the paralytic in Mk. 2:1-12; the demoniacs in Lk. 8:26-39; the ten lepers in Lk. 17:11-19.
All of these and other encounters with Jesus always bring about a change, a positive change, and a better life. A good disposition towards this Lenten season will bring us this encounter that will definitely yield fruitful spiritual growth and abundant blessings.
• Most Rev.(Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins is the Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos. In West Africa Nigeria we all here at WorldSocio encourage everyone to join, love one another, and observe Lent season 2025
Get access to the Whatsapp Bulk Sender Application here and discover easy but simple ways you can promote your business products and services among active WhatsApp users, build a Whatsapp list, and keep growing your business even during and after Lent season. stay loved
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