There are two main ways that Catholics use to focus on growing closer to God during the Lenten season: abstinence and fasting. Abstinence is the act of “doing without” or avoiding something.

The goals are nearly 5 km apart! Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. This picture shows Catholic worshippers at a Mass in Washington DC. Their foreheads are marked with crosses of black ash.

Ash Wednesday begins the 40 days of Lent leading up to the Christian celebration of Easter. On Ash Wednesday, many Christians observe the tradition of placing ashes in a cross on the forehead, which ...

People often think of Mardi Gras as a time of vibrant parties and huge celebrations, but they never really consider why these festivities happen. Mardi Gras, or Carnival, is a time for Christian ...

Catholics are instructed to abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent, a practice called abstinence. "Meat" is defined ...

Marking the first day of the Lenten season, Ash Wednesday is also a day of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. This year, Lent begins on Wednesday, March 5 and ends on Thursday, April 17.

Ash Wednesday – also known as the Day of Ashes – is a day of repentance and fasting, when Christians, especially Catholics, confess their sins and profess their devotion to God. For Roman ...

The season, including Ash Wednesday, is a time for penance, charity and fasting for many Christians, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. USA Today adds that during Lent ...