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Udupi : Ash Wednesday observed in Milagres Cathedral Kallianpur of the Udupi diocese with devotion and gaiety which opens the season of Lent, a special time of fasting, repentance and prayer. The Ash Wednesday, Eucharistic celebrations held at 7am by Rev Fr. Canute Noronha Assistant parish priest along with Very Rev Dr. Lawrence C D’Souza Rector of the Cathedral, Rev Fr. John Bennett Vocational Director of Pilar Fathers’ Kallianpur and Rev Fr. Joseph D’Souza guest priest.

In his beautiful homily of Fr. Canute Noronha said to rediscover the capacity to perceive God through the proper use of our free will. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a sacred season of repentance in which through the disciples of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, we make ourselves an offering to the Father Our Christ. Today when we are signed with blessed ashes and hear the words. Remember, that you are dust, and dust you shall return, we are drawn into the acknowledgement of our complete dependence on God and reminded our finitude and our smallness, an attitude of humility which is a prerequisite of awareness of God’s presence.

Large numbers of faithful people were participated in Ash Wednesday liturgy as usual even though there were three masses on the day.

Ash Wednesday is one of the most popular and important holy days of liturgical calendar. It opens Lent, a season of fasting and prayer. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption.

The ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebrated of the previous year. The ashes are christened with Holy Water and are scented by exposure to incense. While the ashes symbolize penance and contrition, they are also a reminder that God is gracious and merciful to those who call on Him with repentant hearts. His Divine mercy is of utmost importance during the season of Lent and the Church calls on us to seek that mercy during the entire Lenten season with reflection, prayer and penance.