Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent in the Western Christian calendar. Occurring 46 days before Easter, it is a moveable fast that can fall as early as February 4 and as late as March 10.
According to the canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke; Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert, where he endured temptation by Satan. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of this 40-day liturgical period of prayer and fasting.
Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a reminder and celebration of human mortality, and as a sign of mourning and repentance to God. The ashes used are typically gathered from the burning of the palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday.
Lent 2013 Calendar
Clean Monday – Monday, February 11, 2013
Ash Wednesday – Wednesday, February 13, 2013
First Sunday of Lent – Sunday, February 17, 2013
Second Sunday of Lent – Sunday, February 24, 2013
Third Sunday of Lent – Sunday, March 3, 2013
Fourth Sunday of Lent – Laetare Sunday – Sunday, March 10, 2013
Feast of Saint Patrick – Sunday, March 17, 2013
Fifth Sunday of Lent – Sunday, March 17, 2013
Feast of Saint Joseph – Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Palm Sunday – Sunday, March 24, 2013
The Annunciation of the Lord – Monday, March 25, 2013
Holy Thursday – Thursday, March 28, 2013
Good Friday – Friday, March 29, 2013
Holy Saturday – Saturday, March 30, 2013
Easter – Sunday, March 31, 2013
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