Observing Ash Wednesday
PETALING JAYA: Christians marked Ash Wednesday, a solemn occasion to signify the start of Lent, by attending mass held at various times.

Thousands of the faithful went for either the morning, afternoon or evening masses observed at churches yesterday.

Several churches, such as the Church of the Assumption in Petaling Jaya, held a symbolic ceremony to burn year-old blessed palm leaves.

The ashes were used to mark the forehead of the faithful with crosses to signify penance and mortality.

Ash Wednesday marks the start of the 40-day Lent season of penance and abstinence, leading to Holy Thursday on March 28 and culminating with Easter on March 31.

Christians are obliged to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and encouraged to do other acts of abstinence and charity during this period.

In Kota Kinabalu, many Catholic churches were packed as the faithful started their 40-day period of fasting and abstinence.

Typist Lorraine Jacob said that besides abstaining from meat, she also hoped to achieve more by controlling her temper and not bad-mouthing others.

“For us Catholics, there is a wider aspect to fasting and it is not just about what one eats. It is harder for me to abstain from thinking bad of others, complaining and getting angry at every little thing. So I want to try to be better in this sense,” she said.

The mass sessions were divided into Bahasa Malaysia, English, Chinese and Kadazandusun.
PETALING JAYA: Christians marked Ash Wednesday, a ­solemn occasion to signify the start of Lent, by attending mass held at various times.