Southern Californians Observe Ash Wednesday
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Christians throughout Southern California will observe Ash Wednesday today, beginning the 40-day season of Lent, when the faithful prepare for Easter by doing penance for sins and seeking spiritual renewal through prayer, discipline and good works.
Ash Wednesday gets its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of the faithful as a sign of penance. A minister or priest marks the forehead of each person with black ashes in the shape of a cross.
In the Roman Catholic Church, as ashes are applied to each person's forehead, they are told, "Turn from sin and live the Gospel."
Catholics observe Ash Wednesday by fasting, abstaining from meat, and repentance. Other Christian denominations make fasting optional, with the main focus being on repentance.
Roman Catholic Archbishop Jose Gomez will celebrate Ash Wednesday Mass at noon in English at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. The Mass will be streamed live on the cathedral's website, olacathedral.org.
Mass will also be celebrated at the cathedral in English at 6:15, 7, 8 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. and in Spanish at 7 p.m. A bilingual Liturgy of the Word will be celebrated at 3 p.m.
"Lent is a time of solidarity, a time for renewing the bonds that unite us to others -- not only in our families and in our parishes, but also with our neighbors," Gomez said.
"Solidarity is not just a feeling, it has to be lived and shown in practical, real actions of serving others."
Among the ways to serve others suggested by Gomez is participating in the Rice Bowl, a fundraising effort supporting Catholic Relief Services' humanitarian programs in more than 40 nations including agriculture projects helping farmers improve harvests, projects bringing clean water to communities, and health and nutrition services for mothers and their children.
For the faithful with no time to spare, one Winnetka church will be trying a form of curbside service. The vicar, Rev. Gabri Ferrer, at St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church, 7136 Winnetka Avenue in Canoga Park, will be standing on the curb in front of the church from noon to 2 p.m. to anoint people with ashes.
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