Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent are right around the corner. As students and faculty across Baylor’s campus acknowledge and participate in this season, spiritual leaders urge students to prepare their minds and hearts before the season begins.

“All Christian traditions can appreciate Easter for what it is, and I think the preparation season is a really good opportunity, for reflection, for connection, for understanding,” Menesses said. “I think that’s something that we should be able to share in and should be encouraged to be a community wide process.”

With the guidance of the Lenten Devotional series, Simpson hopes that all members of the faith will use this season as a time to grow in unity, despite differences in practice.

In addition to the hubbub of Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14 marks Ash Wednesday — the beginning of the 40-day season of Lent. In recognition, Elliston Chapel and the Bobo Spiritual Life Center will be giving out ashes from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with complete services in Elliston Chapel at 8:30 a.m. and noon.

Lent is not a second chance for the New Year’s resolutions you failed to stick to in January. Lent is not about (briefly) staying off Instagram or (briefly) depriving yourself of M&Ms or (briefly) avoiding the Whataburger drive-thru. Lent is not a secular season — stop making it one.

Throughout the 40-day period, those who observe practice serving alms and self-discipline on multiple occasions — something other Christians could learn from partaking in as well. Lent is not a “Catholics-only” season; it is a tradition people of any denomination can learn from as well.

After the prayerful procession in the dark, the walk was concluded in the walkway of Draper Academic Building with a song, “The Hail Holy Queen,” also know as the “Salvē,” which the group sang in Latin a capella.

At Baylor, the season of Lent will begin with a university-wide service observing Ash Wednesday.

The service will be held at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday at the George W. Truett Seminary’s Paul W. Powell Chapel.

“The service will focus on our need for forgiveness and grace, as we begin a season where penance is one of the primary themes,” said Dr. Burt Burleson, university chaplain.