Then we may have an hour to ourselves before it's time to call it a night. It has been almost impossible to find time to stop for prayer or Bible study in my daily life. In honor of Lent For nearly 2,000 years, Lent has been a season of penance and spiritual reflection for Christians. Today is Ash Wednesday, when Catholic and most Protestant clergy encourage their followers to attend solemn services opening the Lenten season. All Catholic churches and a small but growing number of Protestant churches are offering to mark people's foreheads with a cross-shaped smudge of ashes.
Christian calendars vary, however.
Most Orthodox churches, including Greeks and Russians, will begin Lent on Monday, but Armenian Orthodox churches started their Lenten observance two days ago. Easter falls on April 23 for Catholics, Protestants and Armenians this year. Most Orthodox will celebrate on April 30. Before that, the Saginaw team launched a popular program promoting fasting as a form of spiritual renewal. So many people make vague resolutions about praying more and then they can't find time to do it.