Today is Ash Wednesday, when Catholics around the world wear the symbol of their faith in the form of a cross on their foreheads placed there by a Priest, Deacon or lay minister.  The ash is made from the ashes of the palm leaves from the previous year’s palm sunday.  The palms are a symbol of the palm leaves laid out for Jesus and his Donkey to walk on as they arrive in Jerusalem.

Lent is for the period of 40 days and 40 nights, which is the amount of time Jesus spent fasting in the desert in prayer and contemplation before beginning his public Ministry.