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Skriven 2006-03-02 07:32:58 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service (Press Release)
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                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
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                               VIS-Press releases

FASTING, ALMSGIVING AND PRAYER TO CONFORM US TO CHRIST

VATICAN CITY, MAR 1, 2006 (VIS) - During the general audience today, Ash
Wednesday, Benedict XVI dedicated his catechesis to the liturgical period of
Lent which he described to the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square as "the
itinerary of 40 days that will lead us to the Easter Triduum, memory of the
passion, death and resurrection of the Lord, heart of the mystery of
salvation."

The 40 days of Lent, the Holy Father explained, "possess an undeniable
evocative power. Indeed, Lent aims to recall some of the events that marked the
life and history of ancient Israel," such as "the 40 days of the flood that led
to God's covenant with Noah, and the 40 days Moses spent on Mount Sinai, which
was followed by the gift of the tablets of the Law."

He went on: "Above all, the Lenten period invites us to relive with Jesus the
40 days He spent in the desert, praying and fasting before beginning His public
mission. Today, we too begin a journey of reflection and prayer with all the
Christians of the world. ... Today, all parish communities undertake an austere
and symbolic gesture: the imposition of the ashes." Two "evocative formulae"
accompany this rite, the Pope said: "You are dust, and to dust you shall
return," words that "evoke the human condition," and, "repent, and believe in
the Gospel," an "invitation to place the firm and faithful adhesion to the
Gospel at the foundation of individual and community renewal."

"The Lenten journey, by bringing us closer to God, enables us to look upon our
brothers and sisters and their needs with new eyes. For this reason, Lent is a
favorable moment to convert to love; a love capable of adopting the Lord's
attitude of compassion and mercy, as I seek to recall in my Message for Lent,
which has as its theme the Gospel passage: 'Jesus, at the sight of the crowds,
was moved with pity'."

The Holy Father concluded: "Aware of her mission in the world, the Church does
not cease to proclaim the merciful love of Christ, Who continues to turn His
compassionate gaze on the men and peoples of all times. ... Fasting and
almsgiving - which, together with prayer, the Church particularly proposes in
the period of Lent - represent a good opportunity to conform ourselves to that
'gaze'."
AG/LENT/... VIS 060301 (410)

SUMMARY

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