The pews at Corpus Christi Catholic Church were full of penitent parishioners for services on Ash Wednesday.

“Basically the use of ashes is a sign of penance, a sign of turning away from sin,” said the Rev. William Miller, pastor at Corpus Christi.

Ash Wednesday represents the beginning of the season of Lent, a period of 40 days before Easter Sunday.

“This is the one season of the year we focus on the sorrows and the sufferings of Christ,” Miller said.

Miller said that Catholics celebrate Lent by doing what Miller calls “spring training for the soul.” This includes increasing prayer, fasting and almsgiving. under the category of fasting, many Catholics take on some of their own suffering by giving up something they enjoy.

“Sweets and desserts is a common one,” Miller said, adding that he, too, stays away from desserts and fried food during Lent. Soda and alcohol are also popular items to give up during Lent, he said.

Miller recommends only giving up one or two things because if you try to give up too many things, it just won’t work out.

Ash Wednesday marks beginning of 40 days of Lent