Join St. Luke’s as we observe the first day of Lent with two Ash Wednesday masses at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Ash Wednesday always falls six and half weeks before Easter, beginning the Lenten season of preparation for Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Ash Wednesday dates back to the 11th century. Yet, the tradition of receiving ashes has even earlier roots — to the ancient Hebrew custom of clothing oneself in sackcloth and dusting oneself with ashes as a sign of penance.
The Bible does not explicitly detail this first day of Lent, but there are many instances of this repentant act in the New Testament, such as Luke 10:13.