Many Catholic Faithful have joined in the devotion of Lent, which began on Wednesday, saying they will use the season to get close to God, pray and give charity.
They made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as they marked Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of 40-day fasting by Christians across the world.
Ash Wednesday is observed by Christians ahead of the Easter celebrations in April.
The faithful called for deep reflection, abstinence, prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
Mr. Martins Uduk, a businessman, said he will dedicate the period for self-examination, fasting, prayer, almsgiving and reconciliation with God and man.
Also, Mrs Mercy Alu, a teacher, said that she:”I will focus on prayer for the nation”.
On his part, Mr Ayo Adeyemi, a civil servant said, “lent is a period of renewal, retreat and spiritual rehabilitation which everybody needs”.
Adeyemi said that he would pray for an end to social vices and other misconducts in the society.
He said fasting is good for everyone as it enhance healing, physical well-being and fitness.
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An Octogenarian, Mama Kudirat Ogunyemi, said she was happy to witness another Ash Wednesday although she won’t be fasting due to her age and some health challenges.
Ogunyemi, however, said she would pray always and give alms as much as she could.
“Let us assist the needy, repent and get involved in fervent prayers, evangelise, preach salvation of Christ for our salvation, because that is the purpose of the period of lent,” she said.
NAN reports that Pope Francis in his message to Christians, urged them to persevere in generously doing good in the world, bolstered by prayer and by fighting evil in their own lives, including an addiction to digital media,.
“Lent is a propitious time to resist these temptations and to cultivate instead a more integral form of human communication made up of ‘authentic encounters’—face-to-face and in person,” the pope said in his message for Lent, which begins March 2 for Latin-rite Catholics.
“Let us ask God to give us the patient perseverance of the farmer and to persevere in doing good, one step at a time,” and to know that “the soil is prepared by fasting, watered by prayer and enriched by charity,” the pope wrote.
Christians must persevere in generously doing good in the world, bolstered by prayer and by fighting evil in their own lives, including an addiction to digital media, Pope Francis said.
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The pope’s Lenten message is titled, “Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest if we do not give up. So then, while we have the opportunity, let us do good to all,” which is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. (NAN)
