"Fasting means abstaining from food, but includes other forms of self-denial to promote a more sober lifestyle. But that still isn't the full meaning of fasting, which is the external sign of the internal reality of our commitment to abstain from evil with the help of God and to live the Gospel," Pope Benedict said.

In the Church's tradition, he said, "fasting is tied closely to almsgiving" and is the sign that after having given up an attachment to things and to sin, the Christian has embraced good works.

"Lent is also a privileged time for prayer," the Pope said. He quoted St. Augustine, who described fasting and almsgiving as "the two wings of prayer," because they are signs of humility and charity.

Pope Benedict said, "The Church knows that because of our weakness it is difficult to be silent and sit before God," even though we are "sinners who need His love."

"For this reason, during Lent, the Church invites us to be more faithful and intense in our prayer and to meditate at length on the word of God," the Pope said.

The Lenten period is the Church's gift to Christians to help them prepare to truly celebrate Easter, Pope Benedict said.

"In order to reach the light and joy of the Resurrection, the victory of life, love and goodness, we, too, must take up our cross each day," he said.

Celebrating an evening Mass during which he received ashes from retired Cardinal Jozef Tomko and distributed ashes to cardinals and others present for the liturgy, Pope Benedict said, "Let us begin the Lenten journey trusting and joyful."

In his homily during the Mass at Rome's Basilica of Santa Sabina, the Pope said there is a risk that Lent is seen as a time of "sadness, of drabness," when it really is "a precious gift of God, a time rich and full of meaning" for the Church and its members.

In fact, he said, Jesus admonished His disciples not to moan and groan in public as they practised their penance, because then the admiration they received would be their reward.

Especially during Lent, Christians should be "a living message" of the joy and beauty of being saved by Christ because "in many cases we are the only Gospel that people today" will know, he said.

"Here is another reason for living Lent well: to offer the witness of faith lived to a world in difficulty that needs to return to God, that needs conversion."