In the Holy City, the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday was celebrated with a Mass in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre. In this holy place we can find pilgrims from all over the world who express their gratitude to God for being here today! CAROLINA RIOS Pilgrim - Peru "For me is very special to come here. For me it’s like the Fifth Gospel: to smell, to touch, to be in the steps of Jesus: it's very special! I think every Catholic, every Christian should come here." MARIA TARTAGLIA Pilgrim - Australia “To me it’s a very special day: it’s the beginning of Lent. To be here in the Holy Sepulchre together with my daughter is so special.” The celebration was presided over by Brother Salvador Rosa Flores who, during the homily, compared the Lenten Path to a marathon we can already see the destination of: life and resurrection! Here too, as in the whole Church, the faithfuls received the imposition of the ashes and recalled that man "is dust and to dust will return". A very intense Lenten path begins, especially in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre and in Jerusalem where Jesus experienced Passion, Death and Resurrection! Br Zacheusz says that Lent, even if celebrated every year, is special because the Lord always gives us new signals, new words, new thoughts... These are some of his indications on how to live these days! Br ZACHEUSZ DRAZEK, ofm President of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre "The devil does not sleep, so we must live this Lent with the Bible in our hands, praying, fasting, and performing acts of mercy. It is very important not to lose this holy time.” Also in Jerusalem, in the Church of St. Saviour, the students of the Terra Santa School took part in the Mass celebrated by the Custody Treasurer, Br. Ramzi Sidawi. Br Nairwan Al Banna, ofm Priest of the Latin Parish of Jerusalem "It's time to shift from the old man to the new one, to convert ourselves so we may be close to the Lord." From the beginning, these young people born in the Land of Jesus, who are the future of Christianity in this land, learn the meaning of this Liturgical Time. JERIES ROFA Terra Santa School - Jerusalem “Our religion teacher explained to us how to experience fasting, charity and prayer in this period. We can do it with our families to feel motivated and encouraged.” MAYA NASRAWI Terra Santa School - Jerusalem "As a tangible gesture, we prepared a charity box at school where we will put our offerings. At the end of the 40 days, we will send it to an orphanage or a retirement home that needs it.”