17/02/2026
Praised be Jesus Christ and Mary! 🙏🏻
“Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God. For gracious and merciful is He, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment." (Joel 2:13)
Ash Wednesday marks the start of the Season of Lent, a time in the Church when the faithful are once again called to place the mystery of God back in the center of our lives, amidst all the noise and distractions of our daily, material world. It is a season of sacrifice, seen in Jesus’ most Holy Passion, Death, and Resurrection, bringing the salvation of mankind through His suffering.
We are all invited to reflect upon ourselves and acknowledge our sorrow for sin in order to prepare for the coming of our Lord and to grow closer to Him. According to Pope Leo XIV, every journey of conversion begins by letting God’s word touch our hearts, so that we may renew our commitment to follow Christ in the Paschal mystery.
Despite common (oftentimes pessimistic) sentiment, Lent is not a time of despair; rather, it is a time of hope seen in the Resurrection of the Lord, in trust in His mercy, and in His promise of eternal life.
As we journey through the Season of Lent, we are reminded of the significance of the three pillars that define this sacred time and help us journey to Easter: Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving.
Prayer is the foundation that keeps us rooted in our relationship with God throughout the Lenten season. As we increase our time in prayer, we grow closer to him and allow our hearts to be transformed.
Fasting is a practice of self-discipline where we intentionally give something up during Lent. By doing so, we create space for God to work in our hearts and unite our sacrifices with Christ’s own suffering.
Almsgiving puts faith into action by giving our money, time, or resources to those in need. Through almsgiving, we learn to let go of material attachments and reflect God’s love and mercy in a tangible way.
As we embrace these practices during Lent, may they inspire us to draw closer to God, to live lives of humility and service, and to journey together as a community of faith, hope, and love.
Let us pray for the grace to embrace the three pillars of Lent wholeheartedly, knowing that through our prayers, fasting, and almsgiving, we are transformed and renewed in Christ.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” (Psalm 51:10-12)
References:
https://www.bbcatholic.org.au/hornsby/news-events/blogs/embracing-the-three-pillars-of-lent-prayer-fasting-and-almsgiving
https://catholichomeandchurch.com/blogs/soul-scroll/three-pillars-of-lent
https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/02/13/260213d.html
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/lent/documents/20250206-messaggio-quaresima2025.html
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021826.cfm
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-02/pope-leo-xiv-lent-2026-message-disarm-words-embrace-peace.html
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joel%202%3A13&version=RSVCE
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2051%3A10-12&version=RSVCE
