“Dust thou art and dust thou shall return”

News & Pics : Mr John Menezes, Moodbidri

Feb. 22: “Dust thou art and dust thou shall return” – The Ash Wednesday mass at the Corpus Christi Church celebrated at  7.00 a.m. by Parish priest V.Rev. Fr. Austin Peres. Ashes were blessed and put on the head to remind us of penance.  Fr. Austin thanked the parishioners for attending in such large numbers.

We are reminded today by the Holy Church to penance and pray for we have sinned against God.  Jesus too fasted & prayed for 40 days to do His Father’s will and not to fall into temptation.  We have 40 days of lent starting from today, followed by the Holy week.  The readings today tell us to do penance, to pray and to give alms in such a way that only God & you know about it.  We all want name and public praise for our donation, good work and worship.  In Old testament,  people tore clothes put ash on their heads and fasted to obtain mercy of God for their sins. Today we are asked to tear our hearts and put the word of God in our hearts  and pray for His mercy for our sins. 

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are two days of fasting and abstinence and all Fridays of lent abstinence.  In this Lenten period let us all pray more, give time to read word of God, do a little extra penance and go closer to God.  Children can sacrifice eating chocolates, reducing TV viewing, if possible attend daily mass.

Let us all remember to do penance, pray more and give our time to word of God to be faithful to Him especially during this Lenten time.  May God mercy on us all.