A man receives ashes on his forehead during an Ash Wednesday service in this file photo. Each year, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent and is always 46 days before Easter Sunday.Lent is a 40-day season (not counting Sundays) marked by repentance, fasting, reflection, and ultimately celebration.

The 40-day period represents Christ’s time of temptation in the wilderness, where he fasted and where Satan tempted him. On Ash Wednesday, many Christians go to church and part of the service is to get blessed with, you guessed it, ashes. When receiving ashes on their foreheads, parishioners hear the words: "Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return." The ashes used on Ash Wednesday are meant to represent dust. In this case, blessing means the priest applies ashes to your forehead. Ashes are placed on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday, in one of the most counter-cultural acts of our faith. CNS / Mike Crupi, Catholic Courier The following is a condensed version of an article by Father Michael Van Sloun, pastor of St. Bartholomew in Wayzata, that first appeared in 2008 in The Catholic Spirit. A somber day on the Christian liturgical calendar, it marks the start of Lent. The ashes come from the burnt Palms from last year's Passion Sunday celebration, which begins Holy Week. Ashes are placed on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday, in one of the most counter-cultural acts of our faith. The practice of marking ashes on the forehead relates back to the ancient times, when ashes were used to reveal sorrow and mourning. When receiving ashes on their foreheads, parishioners hear the words: "Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Today, February 26th, is Ash Wednesday, an ancient religious holiday that, for Catholics, is one of the holiest days of the year. In many Western Christian denominations today, the practice of imposing palm ashes on one's forehead is conducted on Ash Wednesday… The sign of the cross is made with the ashes on the foreheads of Catholics during the mass of Ash Wednesday, and they are supposed to keep it on their forehead until after sunset. Ash Wednesday is the first day of the season of Lent, a preparation for the celebration of Easter, the holiest day of the Christian holidays. For all Christians who observe it, Ash Wednesday is a solemn day of repentance and self-reflection. Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent, a 40-day period of penance for Christians around the world. Ashes are blessed and distributed on Ash Wednesday, often during Mass or a prayer service.