As the Diocese of Green Bay marked the start of Lent last week with Catholics around the world, Bishop David Ricken offered support for parishioners struggling to stay true to Lent’s purpose.

“God bless you and your family this Lent,” Ricken said in a tweet.

Ash Wednesday, which fell on Feb. 22 this year, marks the beginning of Lent, which lasts until April 6, or Holy Thursday. Lent is observed for 46 days and consists of 40 days of fasting and six Sundays where fasting is not a requirement. Additionally, meat is not supposed to be consumed on Fridays during Lent. Exceptions are usually made for children and elderly individuals, according to an article in USA Today.

Lent is a time of preparation leading up to the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. During this time, Catholics participate in the practice of self-sacrifice by giving up something they enjoy such as a favorite food, sugar, coffee, television, social media, gaming, alcohol or other luxuries, USA Today reported. Lent is intended to be a period of spiritual reflection and devotion.

Ash Wednesday is primarily observed by Catholics, although many other Christians also observe it. It falls 46 days before Easter Sunday. The observance originates from the traditional Jewish custom of fasting and repentance, according to Catholic Online.

An Ash Wednesday Mass includes the application of ash, made from blessed palm branches from the previous year's Palm Sunday, in the shape of a cross on the forehead. That ritual serves as a reminder of humanity's origin from dust. The priest administering the ashes usually recites the phrase, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust, you shall return,” or "Repent and believe in the Gospel,” Catholic Online continued.

Pope Francis urged the faithful to "rediscover the joy, not of accumulating material goods, but of caring for those who are poor and afflicted"; to put God at the center of one's life and pray and dialogue with him from the heart; and to become free "from the dictatorship of full schedules, crowded agendas and superficial needs, and choose the things that truly matter." during the 40 days of Lent, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) said.