What are you giving up for Lent? Ash Wednesday begins

Christians throughout the Southland will observe Ash
Wednesday today, ushering in the 40-day season of
Lent, when the faithful prepare for Easter by doing
penance for sins and seeking spiritual renewal
through prayer, discipline and good works.
Ash Wednesday gets its name from the practice of
placing ashes on the foreheads of the faithful as a
sign of penance. A minister or priest marks the
forehead of each participant with black ashes in the
shape of a cross.
In the Roman Catholic church, individuals are told as
the ashes are applied to their foreheads, "Turn from
sin and live the Gospel."
Catholics observe Ash Wednesday by fasting,
abstaining from meat and repenting. Other Christian
denominations make fasting optional, with the main
focus being on repentance.
Roman Catholic Archbishop Jose H. Gomez will
celebrate Ash Wednesday Mass at noon at the
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. The Mass will be
streamed live on the cathedral's website,
olacathedral.org.
Mass will be also celebrated at the cathedral in
English at 6:15, 7 and 8 a.m. and 5:15 p.m., and at 7
p.m. in Spanish. A bilingual Liturgy of the Word will
be celebrated at 3 p.m.
Ashes will be distributed during all services.
"During this Jubilee Year of Mercy, let us make this
Lent a time when we really make mercy the heart of
our identity as Christians," Gomez said, referring to
Pope Francis' calling an Extraordinary Jubilee of
Mercy to direct our attention and actions "on mercy
so that we may become a more effective sign of the
Father's actions in our lives."
"Mercy means action. Mercy means feeding the
hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked,
sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick, visiting the
imprisoned, and burying the dead.
"In our personal relationships, mercy means having
more patience and tenderness with those who are
close to us. Mercy means giving people the benefit of
the doubt, giving them a second chance. Mercy
means forgiving others as we have been forgiven.
"So during his season of Lent, let us fast and pray
that God will give us a merciful heart."
In an Ash Wednesday statement, President Barack
Obama said, "Lent is a season of reflection,
repentance and renewal, a time to rededicate
ourselves to God and one another.
"We remember the sacrifice and suffering of Jesus
Christ. We pray for all those who suffer, including
those Christians who are subjected to unspeakable
violence and persecution for their faith. And we join
millions here at home and around the world in giving
thanks for this sacred and solemn season that guides
us toward the Easter celebration."