Pope’s Lenten message calls Christians to see the poor in Christ

(29 Jan,2008):- Every year, Lent offers a providential opportunity to deepen the meaning and value of our Christian lives and it stimulates us to rediscover the mercy of God, so we too, become more merciful towards our brothers and sisters, Pope Benedict XVI said in his Lenten message for this year. The message was released at a Vatican’s Press Conference on Tuesday by Cardinal Paul Joseph Cordes – President of the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum” . For Christians, the 40-day period of Lent begins on Ash Wed. Feburary 6 and concludes with Easter Sunday. In the Lenten period, said the Pope’s message, the Church proposes some specific tasks to help the faithful renew themselves spiritually, these are – prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The Pope said for this year, he desires to reflect specially on the practice of almsgiving, as it is a concrete way to help the poor and the needy, and at the same time, it is an ascetic exercise to free us from attachment to worldly goods. The Pope’s Lenten message further said that Christian almsgiving must be hidden. One must not boast of one’s good deeds, so as not to risk losing the celestial reward.Everything must be done only for the glory of God, not for our own. The Scripture teaches us that there is more merit in giving than in receiving. Almsgiving teaches us the generosity of love he said .The Pope’s Lenten message concludes inviting all Christians to train themselves spiritually, through the practice of almsgiving, so as to grow in charity and recognize in the poor – Christ Himself.