Ouagadougou: The Catholic community is preparing to begin Lent this Wednesday, February 18, 2026, marking a period of forty days of spiritual preparation preceding the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ or the Easter festival. This period is significant for the faithful as it focuses on penance, reflection, and renewal of faith.

According to Burkina Information Agency, Lent commences with Ash Wednesday, a celebration marked by the symbolic rite of placing ashes on the foreheads of the faithful. This liturgical gesture serves as a reminder of the fragility of the human condition and invites individuals to undergo a conversion of heart. By receiving the ashes, Christians are called to renew their faith and engage in a sincere process of penance and inner transformation.