Ryleigh Mohring, sixth-grader at St. John Vianney Regional School, Allentown, receives ashes on Ash Wednesday, March 6 from Bishop of Allentown Alfred Schlert. (Photo by John Simitz)
Bishop of Allentown Alfred Schlert distributed ashes at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown on Ash Wednesday.
Ash Wednesday marks the start of the solemn 40-day season of Lent that prepares us for Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption.
Ashes commemorate the ancient rite of placing the sign of the cross on the forehead with the reminder “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” The ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration the previous year.
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The Video below is of Pope Francis celebrating Ash Wednesday Mass.
