For the next 40 days, Christians will be preparing themselves for the celebration of Easter, known as the season of Lent.
During this time, many Christians will be sacrificing something in their lives that they normally do on a daily basis.
Today marks the first day in the season of Lent, which is called Ash Wednesday. Many Christians will be attending a service to be marked with ashes on the foreheads with a sign of the cross.
Rev. Anthony Man-Son-Hing, pastor at Our Lady of Fatima parish, Paroisse Ste. Marie and Paroisse Ste. Famille in Blind River, explained that the season of Lent helps Christians understand and connect with their inner selves.
"Ash Wednesday is the first of a 40 day-long period of preparation for the celebration of Easter," he explained. "This time of preparation is known as the liturgical season of Lent. On Ash Wednesday, Christians have their foreheads marked with ashes traced in the sign of the cross. During Lent, we use the traditional disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving in order to identify any ways that we need to change. Through the example of Jesus' death and resurrection, we learn that it is possible for us to give of ourselves out of love and that our ultimate reward will be life in heaven."
Preparing herself for the season of Lent, Michelle Hubert said she has decided to follow Lent and give up drinking pop, because according to her, she drinks too much of it.
"Pepsi is my go to drink and I drink six cans roughly a day and for Lent, it's all going," she explained. "I'm not going to drink it. That's my sacrifice. I'm hoping by doing this, my children can take note and follow suite without their candy."
For Andee Guibeault, the season of Lent makes her reflect on her mistakes during the past year to be a better person for her family.
"I have done quite a bit of bad things this past year and as a Catholic, I want to take this time and mentally prepare myself for Easter and its significance and the sacrifices Jesus made for us," she expressed. "Therefore, I decided I want to give up chocolate. Chocolate is the food I turn to when I'm stressed or depressed. I'm hoping I don't get sidetracked and indulge in chocolate during these 40 days."
Food for thought: the last time Valentine's Day fell on Ash Wednesday was in 1945.
The next service at Our Lady of Fatima parish for Ash Wednesday is 6 p.m.
Now that the season of Lent is upon us, have you decided to sacrifice something you normally eat or do on a daily basis?