THE SEASON OF LENT – Ashes to Ashes . . .

The Church’s scriptures for Ash Wednesday seem to present to us a perplexing contradiction. Consider that the Old Testament prophet Joel insists that the Lord’s people present their faith publicly: “Blow a trumpet in Zion! Proclaim a fast, call an assembly; Gather the people, notify the congregation. ” Further, the Apostle Paul testifies that we are “ambassadors for Christ”—that is, public representatives to the culture concerning the identity of the Lord. Contrast both these texts with the words of the Lord Jesus in the Gospel, which seem to indicate that public presentations of the faith are unseemly and what is required for authenticity in our expressions of religious devotion is that they remain private and unseen.

LENT: CONVERSION, PENANCE AND PENANCES (# 1)

Lent is a time of conversion and penance, leading to a renewed life in Easter. The virtue of penance disposes us to repentance and deeper conversion. Interior penance inclines us to do external penances like prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. These classical penances help us re-establish and fortify our relationships with God, ourselves, and others. Fasting is a means to put order and harmony in our lives, while almsgiving is a visible expression of mercy. Lent is a pilgrimage of faith, hope, and love, leading to happiness.

Penance, alms and prayer. How to experience a truthful Lent?

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.