Millions of Catholics around the world celebrated on Wednesday the beginning of Lent and Macau was no exception. In the local parishes, thousands of faithful, representing several different linguistic communities, took part in the symbolic ceremony of the imposition of ashes, a ritual that reminds Catholics of their condition as sinners and invites them to penance, reflection and conversion.
Pope Francis asked and the local Catholic communities complied. Hundreds of people packed the local churches on Wednesday to pray for peace in the world and in Ukraine, in particular. The Supreme Pontiff called on people to pray and fast for peace in Eastern Europe.
“Our association – Associação Piedosa do Escapulário do Carmo – was formed in 2021. We aim to serve the community and promote charitable work. We have about forty volunteers.”
It is very appropriate that the liturgy of the Church has a constant implication in domestic prayer. In this way, parents prepare their children for the celebration of great solemnities and extend the spiritual atmosphere of holy feasts and times into family life.
Yet we know very well how war is part of human life, it is something that we could never completely eliminate, even if we wanted to. A traditional saying goes: si vis pacem, para bellum. If you want peace, prepare for war.
When Father João de Brito arrived in a community, he faced intense work: he received hundreds of people whose confessions he heard, to whom he gave advice or taught doctrine.
Fr João Brito’s mystical experience, paying more attention to the evangelical challenge than to the specificity of earthly life, made him bold and indifferent to the rich, but brought him closer to the populations.