The 40-day Lenten season, a time of reflection, renewal, and repentance, will begin on Feb. 22, Ash Wednesday.

Pre-pandemic crowds of churchgoers are expected to attend the holy masses in churches this year as compared to the last two years with the ease in restrictions and the decrease in the number of Covid-19 cases.

The Litany of Gratitude after the Covid-19 Pandemic will also be recited in all holy masses on Feb. 22.

Since last year, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Commission on Liturgy has allowed the imposition of ashes on the faithful’s forehead. The sprinkling of ashes on the head may also be done.

Pope Francis is scheduled to celebrate a Holy Mass, Blessing, and Imposition of Ashes at the Altar of the Chair, in St. Peter's Basilica.

On Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday, Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59, except those who are ill, are permitted to consume only one full meal, which may be supplemented by two smaller meals, which together, should not exceed the full meal.

Those who are 14 years old and above are also required to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and on all Fridays for the duration of the Lenten season.

Also called Day of Ashes, the burning of blessed palm fronds is traditionally done in churches Tuesday afternoon. Four ancient prayers are recited in the burning of the ashes, which are sprinkled with Holy Water and fumigated with incense. The blessed ashes are then mixed with a little oil.

Ash Wednesday recalls the 40 days and nights of Jesus’ suffering, from His Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane to His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. In the Holy Bible, a mark on the forehead symbolizes a person’s ownership which makes the symbol of the cross on one’s forehead a sign of “surrender to Christ.”

Gospel reflections will focus on Jesus’ warning against hypocrisy as well as His teachings on alms-giving, works of piety and charity, praying, and fasting which, He said, must be done with the right intentions, “not for others to see, but in secret, so that the Father who sees in secret will give His just reward.”

As the season of Lent begins, Church officials encourage the faithful to reflect, do charity work, and to go to confession for spiritual cleansing in preparation for the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday.