Pope Francis on Wednesday, February 14 shared his message, asking people to turn away from the noise of social media and find peace in personal reflection and prayer.
The Pontiff shared the message during the Ash Wednesday Mass on Rome’s Aventine Hill, kicking off the 40-day period leading up to Easter.
In a world where people often share their private lives on social media, Pope Francis expressed concern about everything becoming too ‘social.’
He encouraged a return to genuine values and authenticity.
During the Ash Wednesday Mass at the Basilica of Santa Sabina, the Pope suggested believers take a step back from life’s busyness and spend time in quiet reflection and prayer.
“Let us not be afraid to strip ourselves of worldly trappings and return to the heart, to what is essential.” said the pontiff.
This idea of focusing on what truly matters is the essence of Lent.
Life is not a play – Pope
Lent isn’t just a tradition; it symbolizes a journey based on the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert, as written in the Bible.
For the 1.35 billion Catholics worldwide, it’s a time for self-reflection, fasting, helping others, and thinking about life’s temporary nature.
During the Lenten season believers set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ, to consider his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial, and resurrection.
Christians who observe Lent usually make a commitment to fast, or to give up something, a habit, like smoking, watching TV, swearing, or a food or drink, such as meat or alcohol.
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The goal of these spiritual disciplines is to strengthen the faith of the observer and develop a closer relationship with God.
At the same time, the season leads up to Easter, the most important Christian celebration, representing Jesus’ death and resurrection.
“Life is not a play: Lent invites us to come down from the stage and return to the heart, to the reality of who we are,” emphasized Pope Francis.
In addition, he encouraged stripping away distractions to rediscover the essentials of life.
Ash Wednesday
The Ash Wednesday ritual, observed globally, involves applying ashes on foreheads as a reminder of mortality, the brief nature of life.
Ash Wednesday takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday and is primarily observed by Catholics.
The practice involves the applying of ash on the forehead of believers by a priest.
Moreover, the ashes serve as a remembrance of the grieving and repentance of sin with priests usually uttering, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
This aligns with Lent’s principles – a season dedicated to discipline, sacrifice, and renewed spirituality.
Pope Francis’ call for self-reflection
In today’s digital world, Pope Francis’s message promotes a deliberate pause.
“Without realizing it we find ourselves no longer having a secret place in which to stop and guard ourselves. Immersed in a word, where everything even the most intimate emotions and feelings, must become social.”
“But how can what does not flow from the heart be social? Even the most tragic and painful experiences risk not having a safe place to keep them,” said Pope Francis.
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As the faithful embark on this 40-day journey, Pope Francis’s words guide them toward a more meaningful connection with spirituality.
