Feb 10, 2016

Christians worldwide celebrate Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent. Those observing the holy day are blessed with ash, usually drawn as a cross on the forehead.

: Cardinal Timothy Dolan holds mass on Ash Wednesday at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on February 10, 2016 in New York City. The day marks the start of the lent for Catholics world wide. (Photo by Andrew Renneisen/Getty Images)

: Roman catholic faithful have their religious ornaments blessed by a bishop (not pictured) during the observance of Ash Wednesday at a church ground in Manila on February 10, 2016. The 40-day period of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, with Catholics around the world observing the season which culminates in Easter Sunday. (AFP Photo/Ted Aljibe)

: A woman next to lighted candles prays during the observance of Ash Wednesday at a church ground in Manila on February 10, 2016. The 40-day period of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, with Catholics around the world observing the season which culminates in Easter Sunday. (AFP Photo/Ted Aljibe)

: Pope Francis swings a censer during the Ash Wednesday mass opening Lent, the forty-day period of abstinence and deprivation for Christians, before Holy Week and Easter, on February 10, 2016 in Vatican. (AFP Photo / Alberto Pizzoli)

: Catholics celebrate Ash Wednesday marking the beginning of Lent, a period of penitence for Christians before Easter, in Bogota on February 10, 2016. (AFP Photo/Luis Acosta)

: A Catholic faithful participates in a mass for Ash Wednesday on February 10, 2016, in Cali, Colombia. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a period of penitence for Christians before Easter. (AFP Photo/Luis Robayo)

: A Catholic nun participates in a mass for Ash Wednesday on February 10, 2016, in Cali, Colombia. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a period of penitence for Christians before Easter. (AFP Photo/Luis Robayo)

: A Catholic faithful participates in a mass for Ash Wednesday on February 10, 2016, in Cali, Colombia. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a period of penitence for Christians before Easter. (AFP Photo/Luis Robayo)

: A Catholic faithful prays during Ash Wednesday on February 10, 2016, in Cali, Colombia. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a period of penitence for Christians before Easter. (AFP Photo/Luis Robayo)

: Local beleivers receive the ash-cross, given by father Attila Farkas (R) during a mass in the St Stephan Basilica at the beginning of Lent, which starts 40 days before Easter on February 10, 2016 during an evening mass for Ash Wednesday in Budapest, Hungary. (AFP Photo / Attila Kisbenedek)

: Eucharistic Minister Betsy Balonis, foreground left, makes the sign of the cross on a woman and boy during the distribution of ashes during an Ash Wednesday service at St. Therese’s Church in Shavertown, Pa., Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. (Mark Moran/The Citizens’ Voice via AP)

: A woman covers her face during prayer while she attends Ash Wednesday Mass at the San Francisco church in La Paz, Bolivia, Wednesday Feb. 10, 2016. Ash Wednesday for Catholics worldwide ushers in a period of penitence and reflection, known as the season of Lent, that leads up to Easter Sunday. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

: Catholic nun Teresita Padilla places ashes in the shape of a cross on a teacher’s forehead during Ash Wednesday in Bogota, Colombia, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. Ash For Christians the ritual marks the start of Lent, a period of penitence, that leads up to Easter. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

: A Roman Catholic priest marks a sign of the cross on the forehead of an Indian Catholic worshipper in observance of Ash Wednesday at the St. Joseph Cathedral in Hyderabad, India, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. The Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a solemn period of 40 days of prayer and self-denial leading up to Easter. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

: Pope Francis, right, takes the ashes during the Ash Wednesday mass, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. Pope Francis has smudged ashes on the bowed heads of prelates, nuns and ordinary Catholics during Ash Wednesday Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. The ritual marks the start of Lent, a period of penitence, prayer and self-sacrifice as faithful prepare for Easter. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

: Pope Francis blesses the ashes as he leads the Ash Wednesday mass, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. Pope Francis has smudged ashes on the bowed heads of prelates, nuns and ordinary Catholics during Ash Wednesday Mass in St. Peterís Basilica. The ritual marks the start of Lent, a period of penitence, prayer and self-sacrifice as faithful prepare for Easter. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

: Pope Francis, right, places ashes on the head of a cardinal as he leads the Ash Wednesday mass, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. Pope Francis has smudged ashes on the bowed heads of prelates, nuns and ordinary Catholics during Ash Wednesday Mass in St. Peterís Basilica. The ritual marks the start of Lent, a period of penitence, prayer and self-sacrifice as faithful prepare for Easter. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

: Cardinal Angelo Comastri, left, places the ashes on the head of Pope Francis during the Ash Wednesday mass, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. Pope Francis has smudged ashes on the bowed heads of prelates, nuns and ordinary Catholics during Ash Wednesday Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. The ritual marks the start of Lent, a period of penitence, prayer and self-sacrifice as faithful prepare for Easter. (L’osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)

: Pope Francis leads the Ash Wednesday mass, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. The Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a solemn period of 40 days of prayer and self-denial leading up to Easter. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Christians worldwide celebrate Ash Wednesday

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