The Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga, has called on Nigerians to use the 2025 Lenten season as a time for genuine repentance and to turn away from evil.
In his Lenten message delivered in Enugu, Bishop Onaga emphasized the importance of spiritual renewal and moral uprightness during this sacred period.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Lent is a 40-day period of fasting and prayer observed by Christians worldwide in preparation for Easter.
This year’s Lenten season begins today, March 5, which is Ash Wednesday, and will conclude on Holy Saturday, April 20, the day before Easter Sunday.
“The 40 days of Lent involve fasting, prayer, and almsgiving as a way to connect deeper with God,” the bishop said.
On Monday, the bishop emphasized the need for both the nation and individuals to seek repentance through self-examination to recognize where they have sinned against God.
He urged Christians to engage in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, noting that the 40-day fast is a time of spiritual preparation for the paschal mystery of Christ.
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The bishop encouraged them to abstain from those things that give them pleasure such as cutting down the intake of drinks and food as a way of sacrifice.
Onaga explained that lent begins with Ash Wednesday where palm fronds collected the previous years were burnt, as a sign that they are in the mode of mourning and repentance.
“It reminds us of our source, that we are dust and unto dust we shall return and that we are sorry for our shortcomings as well as asking God for pardon.
“Our nation, politicians and individuals need to repent and turn away from cheating and corrupt practices.
“We should make an effort to reconcile, mend our fences and forgive one another,” he said.
(NAN)
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