SEASON OF REPENTANCE: TODAY IS ASH WEDNESDAY FOR MANY CHRISTIANS

The Rev. Roger Leveillee likes the woody smell of fire burning and delighted in the task of burning palm leaves in preparation for Ash Wednesday, which today marks the beginning of Lent for many Christian traditions.

The dried palm leaves were burned Tuesday morning in an outdoor stairwell at St. Mary's Cathedral, away from the blowing wind and any traffic. Vibrant orange flames shot from the pan as more leaves were placed on the pile.

Leveillee used a small clay pot to crush the leaves and make a fine ash. Once, he even ground the leaves in a blender to make the ashes finer. But that left a grand clean-up job, he said.

Burning palms is not a lesson taught in the seminary but part of the job for many priests. In the American church, there is little ceremony in burning palm leaves, Leveillee said

"They've been blessed already, and the way to respect that blessing is to burn them," Leveillee said.

Traditionally, the ashes used Ash Wednesday come from palm leaves waved during Palm Sunday the year before. The ashes will be used to make the sign of the cross on the foreheads of Christians, particularly Roman Catholics, Episcopalians, Lutherans and Anglicans.

Eastern Orthodox believers follow a different calendar and began their observance of Lent on Monday.

During February, St. Mary's parishioners brought their dried palm leaves to the church for the burning. Some came wrapped in bundles and tied with rubber bands or strings while others were braided or wrapped into a crown.

The Rev. Geff Lamprea, who is originally from the Philippines, said a ceremony surrounds burning the ashes in his country. "It's part of the service and preparation that you do."

Ash Wednesday is observed as the beginning of Lent, a period of 40 days that is designed to prepare people for Easter. The emphasis is on penitence, Lamprea said.

In the Old Testament ashes were a sign of grief and mourning. Christians who wear that sign today are showing that they "didn't get it again," said the Rev. Bob Towner of Christ Episcopal Church.

But the invitation to return to God is always open, he said. "He said come back, I'll give you Easter anyway. He's always there. The prodigal sons and daughters can return."

Lent is a solemn season that focuses on asking for repentance and abstaining from indulgences and luxuries.

Many Christians will give up something for Lent, whether it be a favorite food or a hobby that they enjoy but can do without. People often are harder on themselves during Lent "because we find it hard to believe that God would want us back," Towner said.

Many denominations return to tradition during the Lenten season, with pancake suppers, confession and fasting days.

Christ Episcopal Church held a Shrove Tuesday pancake supper Tuesday evening, which carried on a tradition dating back nearly 1,500 years. During Lent, the English and French often used up all their butter, eggs and sausages in the days before Ash Wednesday because they were preparing for the fast.

Ash Wednesday services

* 5 p.m., Third Street United Methodist Church.

* 6 p.m., Christ Episcopal Church, with communion.

* 7 p.m., St. Mark Lutheran Church ELCA, with communion..

* 5:45 p.m., First Presbyterian Church begins study series during Lent.

* 6 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 12:05 p.m., and 5:15 p.m., masses will be celebrated at St. Mary's Cathedral.

* 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., Hanover Lutheran Church.

* 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 12:15 p.m., and 5:30 p.m., St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.