Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the liturgical Season of Lent. In ancient times the period of preparation for Easter differed in length in various countries. Later it was so arranged that forty days of fast would precede the great Feast as a reminder of our Lord's fast in the desert. In the Old Law ashes signified grief or repentance. In the Early Church, penitents did penance "in sackcloth and ashes." The Priest blesses the ashes with special prayers, sprinkles them with Holy Water and incenses them. He puts them on the forehead of the Faithful with the words: "Remember, man, that you are dust, and into dust you shall return."