ASH WEDNESDAY is celebrated this week among Christian denominations, with the Catholic tradition of wearing a cross of ash on the forehead signaling the beginning of Lent and marking a time of self-denial in memory of Jesus’ suffering and leading to Easter on April 9.

The Rev. John Mucha of St. Anthony and St. Joseph Catholic churches in Bridgeport said many in the faith take Ash Wednesday as a reminder of human sin and frailty, forgiveness and hope, hearkening to Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem.

“The significance of Ash Wednesday is that the ashes are from the palms that were burned from last Palm Sunday, and the significance of that is when we think of Palm Sunday, we think of the crowds hailing Jesus as their king and victor, and then within a few days they turn against him,” Mucha said. “The ashes remind us of how easily we turn away from virtue and reject virtue and turn to sin and vice.”

He said the 40 days of Lent involve penance of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, when worshipers discipline themselves by denying pleasures and comforts for a greater good.

“When we celebrate Easter, one of the things we do is we renew our baptismal promises where we reject sin and Satan and all of the empty promises. If those words are to have value and be authentic, Lent is the time where we reflect on: ‘How well have I fulfilled those over the last year? Where have I lived my baptismal promises to renounce sin?’ The days leading from Ash Wednesday to Holy Week are times for us to pray, to reflect on what we need to change in our lives, so that when we renew those promises on Easter, they are authentic expressions of an interior desire to turn away from sin and to live a life of grace,” Mucha said.

He said these are ways to “die to themselves” in token ways of living as disciples of Jesus.

The Rev. Dan Heusel of St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Bellaire and St. Mary’s Church in Shadyside also said Easter was the most important point of Christianity.

“It always gives us hope that the Lord died for our sins, and for our renewal,” he said. “It sort of goes along with springtime, and so a time to be renewed in our faith and have new hope in what Jesus can do. Life is always going to triumph over death through our faith in Jesus and His resurrection. Ash Wednesday kind of reminds us of our mortality, but the eternal life that Jesus gives up through our faith,” he said.

The Rev. Thomas Chillog of St. Mary’s in St. Clairsville said more people seem to be looking to their faith.

“People are coming to Mass. They’re still not all back from COVID, but a lot of people are returning, and I think they’re anxious to be part of the liturgy, part of the Mass community, gathering and worshiping and supporting each other, and certainly Lent is a great opportunity to turn back to the Lord from those areas where we may have forgotten him or not done so well in our journey of faith,” Chillog said.

He emphasized the three pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting and abstinence to help people focus on their relationship with God.

“People take that to heart,” Chillog said.

Mucha said this was also a time for people to put their struggles into perspective, particularly following the difficult times many have had in the past several years.

“I think people truly desire to use Lent as an opportunity to really grow in their faith,” Mucha said. “We have good turnout for our Ash Wednesday services, and we have services throughout the whole 40 days of Lent, and people very faithful to coming to those extra opportunities for prayer.”

He said the tradition of the Stations of the Cross allows worshippers to reflect on Biblical events from Jesus’ trial and condemnation to his crucifixion.

“We might reflect on Jesus’ falling on his way to Mt. Calvary, and: ‘What does that mean for me? Where do I fall? When have I fallen in my life? When have I fallen into sin and do I, like Jesus, try to get up and go on?'”

He said this leads to Easter and celebrating the Resurrection.

“It’s a time of grace and rebirth, and it’s a rebirth from the darkness of sin to the newness of life of grace and of freedom from our sin,” Mucha said.

“They truly want to see something different. They look to that hope that we see in Easter,” Mucha said.

Heusel said many are persevering in faith and finding strength amid daily challenges.

“However bleak things look, there’s always hope in God,” Heusel said, adding he has seen this in worship and Bible studies. “God’s always there for us.”

Chillog said the same.

“People around have concerns, and I think this is a good time to add those prayers in earnest, to pray for our country and our leadership and our area, and the Lord will certainly help us to remember He’s in charge,” Chillog said. “Keep the prayer going to help keep us going.”