Catholics around Fiji are marking the beginning of Lent today with Ash Wednesday, the first day of the 40-day season of reflection and preparation leading up to Easter.
Sisilia Rageci, a devoted member of Saint Agnes Parish, says Lent is a special season of reflection. She says on this day, many Catholics attend Mass and receive a cross of ashes on their foreheads, and many also engage in acts of charity, giving to help the needy and the poor.
Rageci says that while Lent focuses on sacrifice and transformation, it ultimately leads to Easter, the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Rageci says the ashes are a reminder that life is short and that people depend on God.
She stresses that the sign of the cross shows their faith in Jesus Christ and their desire to turn away from sin.
Lent lasts for 40 days, reflecting the time Jesus Christ spent fasting in the desert.
During this period, Christians are encouraged to pray more, fast, and help those in need.
It is seen as a time for spiritual renewal, sacrifice, and personal change.
