Warm winter could have consequences Ina Hughs Choosing Lenten sacrifices getting harder Nation in focus Archbishop calls for fasting protest Slideshow Mardi Gras and Carnival Remembering the indispensable man Mike Will Made It Reveals Work on Brandy's New Album & Ludacris Collaboration revelry takes over Orleans Wells Fargo buying BNP Paribas’s $9.5B energy portfolio allcash deal Shrove Tuesday time Global economic lent Some Episcopal priests offer 'Ashes to Go' as Lent begins WrightPatt Credit Union $300M 2011 home loans Costumes beads give way ashes Church's aims further faith

Lent begins today with Ash Wednesday Lent begins today with Ash Wednesday. For the world's two billion Christians, Lent is the 40-day period leading up to Easter. Its purpose? To encourage Christians to reflect more deeply on their lives, on repentance, and on the sacrifices made by Jesus. Ashes-to-ashes: Lent starts today Western Christian churches today mark Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent, the traditional 40-day period of fasting, prayer and penitence before Easter. Tim Grobaty: Lent as a concept appeals to nonbelievers as well GIVE IT UP FOR LENT: My God, Lent is here already and, as always, we don't know what sort of sacrifice we're going to make during the 40-day (more or less) period of voluntary (and mandatory) abstinence. Lent a season for reflection Lent is a time for self-examination and reflection. And, as Silver Threads columnist Bettye Anding points out, many older people know a lot about both. But has anyone discovered why it takes so many years to view the events of your life with the clarity of which you were incapable when you were young? Lent offers a great opportunity to get started on a track to better health For many people Lent is a time to take a step back, evaluate what is important and think about sacrifice. People of the Catholic faith refrain from eating meat on Fridays. In addition, Catholics and people from other Christian faiths also "give up" something such as eating high-calorie desserts or kicking a bad habit such as smoking. Lent app '40 days' helps those giving up bad habits For those struggling to give up sinful sweets and spirits for Lent, online tools may help keep the faith. Lent begins Christians' countdown to Easter Today many Christians leave churches and chapels with a black cross smudged on their foreheads. It's Ash Wednesday, the first of 40 days leading to Easter, which falls on April 8 this year. West Roxbury church: Season of Lent is a time of reflection The season of Lent carries with it images of people wearing long faces and feeling badly about themselves. It doesn't have to be that way. Lent begins with receiving ashes on your forehead as a sign of repentance, prayer and fasting and continues for the next 40 days. Christians Tailor Lent Outside Catholic Traditions The season of Lent begins not only for millions of Catholics by having placed a sign of the cross on their foreheads with ash on Wednesday, but with many Christians in and outside of denominations vowing to mark the season with acts of faith. Susan Campbell: This is Lent And Christians who celebrate Lent -- the 40-plus days leading up to Easter -- often do so by giving up something that means something to them (like chocolate) but is usually, ultimately, not all that important to their lives.
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References:
http://dailyherald.com/article/20120204/news/702049894/
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/feb/22/ina-hughs-choosing-lenten-sacrifices-getting/?partner=RSS
http://feeds.sfgate.com/click.phdo?i=f5f72045c8975760bee5799243003e6b
http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20120221/NEWS/302210146/
http://www.indystar.com/article/20120221/LOCAL/202210315/1387/LOCAL
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