My dear Brothers and Sisters,
Our resolve as men and women of dedicated commitment to our Catholic faith in my mind is without blemish. I do appreciate the importance you my Brothers and Sisters attach to the Lenten season of the Church and what it means to our relationship with God.
This month, I chose to share with you extracts from the 2011 Lenten Message of the Holy Father Benedict XVI. The message goes with the title “You were buried with Him in Baptism, in which you were also raised with Him”.
The message which is essentially a road map to rekindle the supernatural life that was given to us in Baptism presents Lent to us as a path or journey, a span of time to bring to fruition the seed planted at Baptism.
Extract from his message I consider relevant to our Lenten journey are as quoted below:
“By immersing ourselves into the death and resurrection of Christ through the Sacrament of baptism, we are moved to free our hearts every day from the burden of material things, from a self centered relationship with the “world” that impoverishes us and prevents us from being available and open to God and neighbor. Through the traditional practices of fasting, almsgiving and prayer which are an expression to our commitment to conversion, Lent teaches us how to live the love of Christ in an ever more radical way”.
Our Holy father goes on to say “In our journey, we are often faced with the temptations of accumulating and love of money that undermine God’s primacy in our lives. The greed of possession leads to violence, exploitation and death. The idolatry of goods, on the other hand not only causes us to drift away from others, but divests man, making him unhappy, deceiving him, deluding him without fulfilling its promises, since it puts materialistic goods in the place of God, the only source of life”.
The Lenten period is a favorable time to recognize our weakness and to accept through a sincere inventory of our life, the renewing Grace of the Sacrament of Penance, and walk resolutely towards Christ.
Our Holy Father concludes with these words “Dear brothers and sisters, through the personal encounter with our Redeemer and through fasting, almsgiving and prayer, the journey of conversion towards Easter leads us to rediscover our Baptism. This Lent, let us renew our acceptance of the Grace bestowed upon us at that moment (Baptism), so that it may illuminate and guide all of our actions”.
I very sincerely wish you a very reflective Lenten season.
Sgn.
SIR KNT BRO. ANTHONY KEMAVOR
(SUPREME KNIGHT)