Lent is a time for renewal, a time to draw closer to God "so that he may pick us up and set us again on his pathway to the fullness of life", writes Cardinal Vincent Nichols in his pastoral letter.
"Through daily prayer we open our hearts to the Lord; through fasting, or self-denial, we quieten the clamour within us for self-indulgence; in almsgiving we have a means of reaching out to those in need, giving expression to our compassion for them."
Today, Shrove Tuesday, people prepare for lent with pancakes, pancake races and even a football match.
Choristers from Ely Cathedral choir and the Very Reverend Mark Bonney take part in traditional pancake races at the Cathedral in Cambridgeshire
The Anglican centre in Rome celebrate with an ecumenical pancake toss ©Twitter
Paul Greenway, Canon at Ripon Cathedral, takes part in the traditional pancake race in Ripon, Yorkshire
Thousands descend upon the town of Asbourne in Derbyshire to take part in the annual Royal Shrovetide Football Match
The two teams - the “up’ards” and “down’ards” - are made up of people who were born on the different sides of the Henmore River which divides the town
The "up'ards" score a goal
MP for Ealing North Steve Pound takes part in the annual Rehab Parliamentary Pancake Race in which MPs, Lords and members of the media race each other on pancake day to raise money for the charity Rehab, in Victoria Tower Gardens, London
PICTURES: ©PA
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