“Lent is a journey that involves our whole life, our entire being. It is a time to reconsider the roads we are taking, to find the way back home, to rediscover the fundamental bond with God, on which everything depends.”

Pope Francis, February 2021

During this valuable time of Lent, we concentrate with sincere hearts on preparing ourselves spiritually and mindfully for the Easter celebration of the risen Christ. We embark on our Lenten journey to know ourselves and realign our relationship with God more honestly and humbly. Individually, and together with our community, we prepare for the great pleasure and courage to continue our mission of spreading the Gospel message of Easter. In the words of Pope Francis, our goal is a “conversion of heart” — opening our minds and hearts to Jesus’ actions, words and divine centrality in our lives. To be truly ready to wholeheartedly receive the gift of Easter, we must commit ourselves to understanding and integrating into our daily lives these necessary steps: prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

Reflecting and praying for guidance and a heart that is open to change and acceptance of God’s forgiveness and necessary presence in our lives is a fundamental aspect of our journey. Pope Francis has reminded us that “in the face of so many wounds that hurt us and could harden our hearts, we are called to dive into the sea of prayer, which is the sea of God’s boundless love.” We are called to pray not only for ourselves, but also for those in our lives and around the world who are suffering. Fasting is not just about eating less. More difficult for many of us, it is about prioritizing an attitude, a way of life, of less waste, of doing our part to share with those who have less. In Pope Francis’s words, “fasting makes sense if it questions our security, and if it also leads to some benefit for others.”

Almsgiving is another necessary aspect of our journey through Lent. Helping others, giving to others, without expecting something in return can be difficult. We live in a world where our worth is generally measured by the number of possessions we own. Giving freely, springing from an understanding that God gives freely to us is another important preparation for Easter.

“Let us accept the grace of Christ’s Resurrection! Let us be renewed by God’s mercy, let us be loved by Jesus, let us enable the power of his love to transform our lives too; and let us become agents of this mercy, channels through which God can water the earth, protect all creation, and make justice and peace flourish.” – Pope Francis, March 2013

By Maria Fornasier