The Catholic community today enters the season of Lent -- a period of 40 days of austerity, set aside every year by the church, commencing Ash Wednesday. The number 40 was chosen after the example of Jesus Christ who taught us the need of prayer and fasting by fasting for 40 days and 40 nights in the desert. The note of penance is forcibly sounded by the church not only by the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday, but also by the use of purple vestments, omission of joyful songs, Gloria and Alleluias during church services. As pilgrims on a journey to our heavenly abode, Lent offers us a golden opportunity to give up our sinful ways, by repenting and returning to the path of righteousness. The externals of imposition of ashes on foreheads matter little, if we do not undertake acts of forgiveness, penance and charity for sins committed, and undergo inner conversion .
