The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver held Ash Wednesday services on March 5, 2025.
Ash Wednesday is a holy day of prayer and fasting in many Western Christian denominations. It is preceded by Shrove Tuesday and marks the first day of Lent, the six weeks of penitence before Easter, which falls on April 20 this year.
Lent is a 40-day period of penance and fasting leading up to Easter. Ash Wednesday is a day of solemn reflection and repentance that reminds Christians of human mortality and the need for reconciliation with God. People receive ashes on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday to symbolize repentance, mourning, and a desire for God’s mercy.
The ashes come from the burnt Palms from last year’s Passion Sunday celebration, which begins Holy Week.
