Faithful must fast and abstain – Archbishop Soc
DURING LENT SEASON
LINGAYEN-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas reminded the Catholic laity to observe fasting and abstinence for the duration of the Lent season.
In his message “Lessons of Love for Ash Wednesday”, Villegas, said every person 14 years of age or older must abstain from meat and items made with meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all the Fridays of Lent, and every person between the age of 18 and 60 must fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
“Fasting and abstinence are acts of love,” he said as he added that the meat they abstain from must be given to those who practically fast everyday due to extreme poverty, enduring inhuman hunger.
“Fasting and abstinence are not exercises of will power. We eat less so the hungry can have more. We enjoy less so those who suffer may receive some comfort,” Villegas stressed.
Meanwhile, Villegas said February 14 which fell on Ash Wednesday this year was a good day to reflect on love and what it really means. “Ash Wednesday falling on Valentine’s Day gives us a good occasion to dig more deeply into the meaning of love as much as to correct kindly our wrong notions of love,” he said.
He mentioned three ways how love is best expressed.
- Love is best expressed by sacrifice. “Love is best shown by suffering with your loved one or suffering instead of your loved one,” he said.
- Love is also best expressed by prayer, “Prayer is being in the presence of God. When we pray, God stays by us. When we pray, distances are narrowed. In prayer, we get united even if we are physically apart.”
He added, “Prayer brings us together. The Lenten season is time for more prayers of presence; not just reciting more prayers but praying in silence and solitude, welcoming the Lord and everybody, friends and enemies together, into our souls.”
- Love is best shown by giving. “Love is generous. Love gives without counting the cost. It has been said that you can give without loving but you cannot love without giving,” Villegas said.
He added that it has also been said that “We must love until it hurts” but Ash Wednesday pushes us to heroism unto saying “Love until it no longer hurts”.
“Let selfless giving become our second nature. Giving will not hurt anymore,” he said.
Villegas stressed that the three keys for Valentine’s Day were the same three keys for the season of Lent—sacrifice, prayer and giving. (Eva Visperas)
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