CONRAD DIAS
Ranchi, March 1: After a gap of two years, a complete offline holy mass for Ash Wednesday will be held in Churches across the city. Last year, the Mass was held online along with a limited number of people who attended the offline mass.
Ash Wednesday is the first day of the Lenten Season in which Christians keep fasting for 40 days to replicate Jesus Christ’s sacrifice. It is marked by fasting, both from food and festivities.
Fr. Peter Tigga, a priest at St. Mary’s Cathedral spoke to Lagatar24.com and said that Christians should fast during the Lenten season and must give up on things they like the most. “The 40 days during lent is considered to be the holiest time for us Christians and we should take it seriously. We should fast during this time and pray every day,” he added.
Many Christians keep a meatless fast on Fridays during Lent. They often choose to give up specific pleasures like alcohol or social media during Lent as a way to adapt simplicity and self-control.
The authorities at St. Mary’s Cathedral said that the mass will start at 6 AM and will also have mass in the evening. “We are taking all necessary precautions and following the government guidelines to conduct the mass,” the official said.
The forty days Lent season ends every year on Good Friday, the day Jesus Christ was crucified and is followed by Easter Mass on Sunday, the day Jesus was resurrected from the dead.