Archbishop’s 2010 Lenten Message to the Faithful
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ:
To begin the holy season of Lent, I am inviting each of you to enter into this sacred time with a deepening sense of prayer and reflection.
At the Stewardship and Development training last month, I announced my desire to have the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament available at every parish beginning the First Sunday of Lent and eventually work toward a 24-hour adoration where it is possible.
Prayer is to be uppermost in our consciousness. Prayer is an opening to God; it provides the space needed to be in communication with our loving God. Our relationship with God is vital for our lives. It is as vital as the air we breathe. It is important to allow God the time to speak to us, to tell us just how much he loves us. Setting aside time to pray every day will help us make good and generous responses to God’s call to discipleship. Prayer is fundamental to our way of life as Catholic Christians.
To support our life of prayer, I also ask all of us to commit ourselves to:
Fasting and Abstinence. The Church asks those who are ages 18 to 59 and are in good health to partake of only one full meal on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and those who are 14 to 59 to abstain from eating meat on those days. It is also customary to abstain from meat on the other Fridays and/or Wednesdays of Lent.
Also, fast and abstain from things that clutter our lives. Try to live simply.
More on Personal and Communal Prayer. Make the extra sacrifice to participate at daily Mass. See the schedule of your parish for the time of Mass and prayer.
Pray the rosary daily and make the Way (Stations) of the Cross often to help in your reflection. Read spiritual books to help and guide you in your spiritual reflection. Read the lives of he Saints for inspiration.
Make use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) during this time. Parish priests are to make themselves available a few minutes before each Mass to hear confessions for those needing it.
Let us pray especially for those who are having difficulties with their marriages, for the homeless, the abused, and those suffering from mental illness; pray for the those who have lost their way especially their faith and for those preparing for Baptism; pray for the sick and the elderly to accept their cross and look forward to the glory of the resurrection.
Giving Alms to Charity. The Church asks us to be generous in donating toward charitable causes, one of which is our Annual Catholic Charities Appeal. I ask that every wage earner offer the equivalent of one day’s wage to the Catholic Charities and for every business enterprise the equivalent of one’s day’s business income.
If we can commit ourselves to these noble practices during this holy season of Lent, we will indeed be journeying with the Lord Jesus through his Passion, Death and Resurrection. Let us continue to pray for one another and for peace in our world.
Servus tuus,
Most Reverend Anthony Sablan Apuron, OFM Cap., D.D.
Metropolitan Archbishop of Agana