Lent, one of the most significant periods in the Christian liturgical calendar, begins today, March 5, 2025, with the observance of Ash Wednesday.
This 40-day season, excluding Sundays, is a time for penance, fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, all leading up to the celebration of Easter on April 20. The length of Lent mirrors the 40 days that Jesus Christ spent fasting in the desert, a period marked by reflection, sacrifice, and spiritual preparation.
On Ash Wednesday, millions of Christians worldwide gather for church services to receive ashes on their foreheads in the shape of a cross. The ashes, made from the burned palms of the previous year’s Palm Sunday, serve as a solemn reminder of human mortality and the need for repentance. As the ashes are applied, clergy often recite the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust, you shall return,” reinforcing themes of humility and reflection that define the Lenten season, Catholic.com reports.
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 shifts each year, depending on when Easter falls, which is determined by the lunar calendar. In 2025, Easter occurs unusually late, pushing the start of Lent and its related observances further into the year. However, this timing has not dampened the enthusiasm with which Christians worldwide embrace the season’s practices of fasting and prayer, Michigan Thumb reports.
The significance of Lenten practices
Fasting during Lent typically includes abstaining from meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays until Easter. The Sun reports that many Christians also choose to give up certain luxuries or habits, such as sweets, social media, or other personal comforts, as acts of sacrifice and self-discipline.
In addition to fasting, prayer and almsgiving—acts of charity toward those in need—are integral to renewing one’s faith and deepening commitment to God’s teachings.
Last year, during his Ash Wednesday homily at the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome, Pope Francis encouraged the faithful to use this period to detach from worldly distractions, particularly social media, and focus on spiritual growth. “Life is not a performance,” the Pope remarked, urging believers to seek quiet reflection and authenticity in their faith.
As Lent 2025 unfolds, The Telegraph reports that Christians around the world are called to embrace the season’s disciplines with sincerity, preparing their hearts for the profound joy of Easter’s resurrection message.
On Sunday, Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, emphasized the shared values between Christianity and Islam, particularly the belief in one merciful, all-powerful God. He highlighted the similar core principles observed by both faiths during periods of fasting and prayer, such as the upcoming 2025 Ramadan and the Lenten season. “Whether you are Christian or Muslim, we all believe in one God who is Almighty and merciful,” he said.
