Pope’s Lenten message urges Catholics to penitence and almsgiving.
(February 22, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI is urging Catholics worldwide to purify themselves
from the greed of worldly possessions to prepare themselves for Easter. The Pope’s
invitation came in his message for this year’s Lent, which begins with Ash Wednesday
on March 9th. In his Lenten message released on Tuesday, the Pope says
in our journey we are often faced with the temptation of accumulating money and material
goods that undermine God’s primacy in our lives. The greed of possession leads to
violence, exploitation and death, therefore the Church, especially during the Lenten
period, reminds us to practice penitence, fasting and almsgiving and share with
the poor and the most needy. The Pope’s Lenten message says that the idolatry
of goods, on the other hand, not only causes us to drift away from others, but divests
man, making him unhappy, deceiving and deluding him, without fulfilling its promises,
since it puts materialistic goods in the place of God, Who is the only source of
life. The Pope points out that during the entire 40-day Lenten period, the Church
offers us God’s word with particular abundance. By contemplating on the Mystery of
the Cross, we enter into intimate communion with Him and are led to a deep conversion
in our lives. The Pope says the Lenten period is a favourable time to recognize our
weakness and to accept through a sincere inventory of our life, the renewing grace
of the Sacrament of Penance, and walk resolutely towards God. The Pope’s Lenten message
concludes saying through fasting, almsgiving and prayer, the journey of conversion
towards Easter leads us to rediscover our Baptism. This Lent, lets us renew our acceptance
of the grace of God bestowed upon us at Baptism, so that it may guide all our actions,
says the Pope.