Lent, a significant period in the Christian liturgical calendar, begins today, March 5, 2025, with the solemn observance of Ash Wednesday. This 40-day season, excluding Sundays, is a time of fasting, prayer, penance, and almsgiving, leading up to the celebration of Easter on April 20.
The duration of Lent reflects the 40 days Jesus Christ spent fasting in the desert, a period dedicated to spiritual preparation and sacrifice. Millions of Christians worldwide will attend church services on Ash Wednesday to receive ashes on their foreheads in the shape of a cross. These ashes, made from burnt palms of the previous year’s Palm Sunday, serve as a reminder of human mortality and the call to repentance. Clergy traditionally recite, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust, you shall return,” reinforcing the themes of humility and reflection that define the Lenten season.
Key Dates in Lent 2025:
- Ash Wednesday: March 5
- Palm Sunday: April 13
- Maundy Thursday: April 17
- Good Friday: April 18
- Easter Sunday: April 20
The timing of Lent varies each year as it is determined by the date of Easter, which follows the lunar calendar. In 2025, Easter falls later than usual, extending the observance period.
Significance of Lenten Practices
Fasting is a key Lenten tradition, with many Christians abstaining from meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays leading up to Easter. Some also choose to give up certain luxuries such as sweets, social media, or other comforts as a form of sacrifice and self-discipline.
Prayer and almsgiving are also central to the season, encouraging acts of charity and deeper faith renewal. Last year in Rome, Pope Francis urged believers to use Lent as a time to detach from worldly distractions, particularly social media, and focus on spiritual growth. “Life is not a performance,” he stated, emphasizing the need for quiet reflection and authenticity in faith.
As Lent 2025 unfolds, Christians worldwide are called to observe its disciplines with sincerity and devotion, preparing their hearts for the profound joy of Easter’s resurrection message.
