In Pakistan, the Lenten observance of the Christian minority is a time to emphasize social justice through compassion, self-denial, and support for the downtrodden sections of society.

Lent is a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, humility, repentance, and charity observed by Christians before Easter, the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It commemorates the 40 days Jesus Christ fasted in the wilderness (Gospel of Luke, Chapter 4) before beginning His public ministry. Later, in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:16–18), Jesus taught about fasting, emphasizing sincerity rather than public display.

Fasting during Lent is not simply about giving up food or comforts. It is a deeply spiritual practice rooted in transformation of the heart. It is a period of spiritual preparation for the resurrection, moving from repentance to renewal and entering into the mystery of Christ’s Passion. Through small sacrifices, Christians spiritually unite their lives with Christ’s self-offering on the Cross. For Christians, fasting is a voluntary practice of abstaining from food and other comforts for a spiritual purpose. It seeks to deepen one’s relationship with God through prayer, reflection, and self-discipline.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday, just before Easter Sunday. Ash Wednesday is one of the most significant religious days for Christians, marked by special church services. During these services, priests place blessed ashes on the foreheads of believers in the shape of a cross as a sign of repentance. As Fr. Faryad Munir OFM (Cap) explains, when the priest places ashes on our foreheads, it reminds us: “O man, you are dust, and to........

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