Udupi: Ash Wednesday was observed in Milagres Cathedral of Udupi Diocese with devotion which commences the season of Lent, a special time of fasting, repentance and prayer. The Ash Wednesday, Eucharistic celebrations was held at 6.30 am by Very Rev Fr. Stany B. Lobo, Rector of Cathedral and parish priest of the church was the chief celebrant along with Rev Fr. Rolwin Aranha, Asst. Parish priest, Rev Fr. Denis Lobo and Rev Fr. Nelson Furtado of Pilar Fathers, Rev Fr. Aloysius Lewis and Rev Fr. Wilfred Lewis local priest.

In his beautiful homily, Fr. Stany Lobo said to rediscover the capacity to perceive God through the proper use of our free will. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a sacred season of repentance in which through the disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, we make ourselves an offering to the Father Our Christ. He questioned our parents how many of them to say evening prayers with their children which our forefathers used to say which will be disappointed now a days. Today when we are signed with blessed ashes and hear the words, Remember, that you are dust, and dust you shall return, we are drawn into the acknowledgement of our complete dependence on God and reminded our finitude and our smallness, an attitude of humility which is a prerequisite of awareness of God’s presence.

During the mass, after the homily by Fr. Stany Lobo, he blessed the ash and applied with the sign of cross on the forehead and heads of congregation with the words that remember that thou art dust and thou shall return. The ashes are blessed at least first mass of the day. There were three masses held at Milagres in order to the conveniences of faithful at large.

Ash Wednesday is one of the most popular and important holy days of liturgical calendar. It opens Lent, a season of fasting and prayer. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption.

The ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebrated of the previous year. The ashes are christened with Holy Water and are scented by exposure to incense. While the ashes symbolize penance and contrition, they are also a reminder that God is gracious and merciful to those who call on Him with repentant hearts. His Divine mercy is of utmost importance during the season of Lent and the Church calls on us to seek that mercy during the entire Lenten season with reflection, prayer and penance.

Ash Wednesday Eucharistic services held at Milagres Tri-centenary Hall due to renovation of the Cathedral. All the masses are to be held around one month in the Hall instead of Cathedral. The renovation work has been done very fast since the beginning of the work by the Grace of Our Lady of Miracles.