Lent 2025 Begins: A 40-Day Sacred Journey of Fasting, Prayer, Repentance, and Charity as Millions of Christians Worldwide Prepare Their Hearts for Easter Sunday on April 20
Lent, a sacred 40-day period in the Christian liturgical calendar, begins today, March 5, 2025, with the observance of Ash Wednesday. This season, which excludes Sundays, is marked by fasting, prayer, penance, and almsgiving, leading up to Easter Sunday on April 20.
The duration of Lent reflects the 40 days Jesus Christ spent fasting in the desert, symbolizing spiritual preparation and sacrifice. On Ash Wednesday, millions of Christians worldwide attend church services to receive ashes on their foreheads in the shape of a cross, a solemn reminder of human mortality and repentance.
Key dates in Lent 2025 include:
- Palm Sunday: April 13
- Maundy Thursday: April 17
- Good Friday: April 18
- Easter Sunday: April 20
Fasting traditions during Lent often involve abstaining from meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays, while many Christians also give up personal comforts as an act of discipline. Prayer and acts of charity are central to deepening faith and spiritual renewal.
Last year, Pope Francis urged believers to detach from distractions, including excessive social media use, and embrace quiet reflection. Meanwhile, Cardinal John Onaiyekan highlighted the shared values between Christianity and Islam during fasting seasons, emphasizing belief in a merciful and all-powerful God.
As Lent 2025 unfolds, Christians worldwide are called to embrace its disciplines with sincerity, preparing their hearts for the joy of Easter’s resurrection message.
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