The blessings of ashes on the faces of students at local churches yesterday symbolized their rebirth from sin.
Ash Wednesday marks the day when Christians celebrate the sacrifices made by Jesus and begin the spiritual season of Lent that ends in Easter.
"It's a time for renewal," said LSA senior Natalya Varlick.
Several area churches held more masses than usual yesterday, and people crowded the churches for a chance to begin their Lent worship.
"We had 400 people this morning, and we expect to have at least that many for the next two services," said Martha Rushmore, a liturgist at St. Thomas Catholic Church on Elizabeth Street.
The church held masses yesterday at 7 a.m., noon and 4 p.m.
"It is a time to get ready for Easter," said Engineering senior Dan Griffin.
The Ash Wednesday celebration also gives Christians a chance to look back on their contributions.
"It's a beginning of looking at how I can better serve the charity of wealth," said Father Bob Irish of the Transfiguration Catholic Church on South Harris Street.
The day is celebrated in church with the burning of palms from Palm Sunday. Then, the priest blesses the ashes and makes the sign of the cross on patrons' foreheads.
The masses also include the spreading of ashes and readings from the Old and New Testaments, especially readings from the Book of Joel and a sermon about the religious period.
The ashes are meant to symbolize renewal and a spiritual rebirth of the soul. The ashes also represent that man came from ashes and will return to ashes, Rushmore said.
"It's like when a forest burns down and there is room for new growth," Rushmore said.
Lent is often symbolized among Christians by either fasting or giving up something in their everyday life that would be a sacrifice.
The Ash Wednesday celebration is followed by Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and concludes with Easter Sunday in 46 days.
AJA DEKLEVA COHEN/Daily
First-year LSA student Andrea Morrow receives ashes on her forehead during an Ash Wednesday service yesterday at St. Mary's Catholic Church on Thompson Street.