Ash Wednesday: ‘Remember, man, thou art dust’

MANILA, Philippines–“Remember, man, thou art dust and unto dust you shall return,” or the alternative formula, “Repent and believe in the Gospel.”

As millions of Catholics troop to churches today to mark Ash Wednesday, the start of the 40-day Lenten season, the Church urged the faithful to perform acts of kindness for others.

Caceres Archbishop Rolando Tirona, the chair of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace, called on Catholics to practice charity by supporting the Church’s Alay Kapwa program and other humanitarian projects.

“The Church’s Alay Kapwa program is timely now that we also observe the Year of the Poor,” Tirona said in an interview with the Church-run Radio Veritas.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent, observed by most Christians, including Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Anglicans and Presbyterians.

Millions of Filipino Catholics are expected to flock to the churches Wednesday to have their foreheads marked with ashes to humble them and remind them that life passes away on earth.–Tina G. Santos