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Catholic Church begins 40-day Lenten period
17th February, 2026 12:04 AM
Catholics around the world will begin the 40-day Lenten season on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, as they prepare for the Easter celebrations that mark the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Lent is a solemn period of repentance, prayer and almsgiving. It begins with Ash Wednesday, which falls 46 days before Good Friday and marks the first day of the Lenten journey leading to Holy Week. This year, the Lenten season will conclude on Thursday, April 2, 2026.
The practice of Lent has ancient roots in early Christianity. According to Eusebius, a fourth-century church historian, early Christians observed fasting in preparation for Easter, sometimes for only one or two days, before the tradition gradually developed into the longer Lenten period observed today.
Speaking to the media, Fr. Bernard Muchoki of the Diocese of Murang’a said Lent is a deeply rooted season in the Church calendar.
“The Lenten season is a historical season of the Church. It is practised every year by all the faithful in honour of the Church calendar. Christians commonly celebrate Ash Wednesday by receiving ashes on their foreheads and fasting to begin the season. This practice reminds us of human mortality and the importance of reconciling with God,” Fr. Bernard said.
He also explained who may distribute and receive ashes.
“In the Roman Catholic Church, ashes are ordinarily distributed by a priest or deacon. Nuns and catechists often assist, and when necessary, a designated lay minister may also distribute ashes with permission. Ashes may be received by all baptized Catholics, catechumens, candidates, other Christians and, in many parishes, even non-Christians who wish to participate. Receiving ashes is not restricted like Holy Communion, because ashes are a sacramental, not a sacrament,” he explained.
Ash Wednesday has its roots in ancient Jewish traditions of penance and fasting and is observed as a day of fasting and abstinence. During the service, ashes are placed on the forehead in the shape of a cross, accompanied by the words, “Repent and believe in the Gospel.”
Fr. Bernard said the use of ashes carries deep biblical meaning.
“Throughout Scripture, ashes symbolize mourning, repentance and the recognition of human frailty. In the Old Testament, people wore sackcloth and ashes as a sign of sorrow for sin and a plea for God’s mercy. Today, the practice continues as a reminder of our need for conversion and spiritual renewal,” he said.
He added that receiving ashes is not only about acknowledging mortality but also about hope.
“Ashes remind us that we are created from dust but are called to share in God’s divine life. It is a personal invitation to turn away from sin and strive for holiness,” he added.
The ashes used on Ash Wednesday are traditionally made by burning the palm branches from the previous year’s Palm Sunday, linking the celebration of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem with the call to repentance that marks the beginning of Lent.
