Millions of Christians in Uganda, USA, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Italy, German, France and England among other countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Middle East and Europe on Wednesday commemorated Ash Wednesday.
The holy function marked the beginning of the 40 days of the lent period ending on Easter Sunday. Christians fast for 40 days to remember the 40 days and nights Jesus Christ of Nazareth fasted in the deserted and won the temptations of the devil that is also called Satan and old dragon in the bible language.
In the catholic faith, on Ash Wednesday Christians spread ashes on believers’ forehead as a biblical sign of mourning and repentance to God. However many members of other Christian faiths believe that the tradition is outdated and outlived.
In Kampala Msgr. John Wynand Katende, the public relations official of Kampala Archdiocese told catholics at Christ the King Church that lent is a period of repentance, prayer and helping the disadvantaged persons across the world.
“It offers Christians an opportunity to grow in our relationship with God and to deepen our commitment to a Christian way of life, through fasting, repentance, and spiritual discipline,” he says.