As the season of Lent starts, and Christians enter a period of fasting just as Christ did for forty days and nights, Rev Fr Joseph Mukiibi, Director of Communications and Public Relations at the Kampala Archdiocese, has reminded the faithful to deepen their spiritual commitment.
In an interview with The Observer, Fr Mukiibi urged Christians, especially Catholics, to intensify their prayer life during the Lenten period, describing it as a time of reflection, sacrifice, and spiritual renewal.
“We are [in] a very beautiful season of grace for all of us. And Lent is a spiritual school where we encounter the Divine with devotion, commitment, and purest love,” Father Mukiibi said.
Lent, as defined by the Catholic Church, is a 40-day liturgical season of spiritual preparation for Easter, focused on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday evening, imitating Jesus’ 40 days of fasting in the desert.
“Its aim is nothing less than helping us to become more loving persons, loving God above all, and our neighbour as ourselves. So, its purpose is the transformation of our total being, mind, body, and spirit. So, the change of attitude, the change of mentality, the pure understanding of our relationship with God, is essential for all of us,” Fr Mukiibi added.
He also called upon Christians to break away from the usual to the unique. Explaining the three pillars of Lent, Fr Mukiibi noted facets such as prayer, fasting, and alms giving help discipline the senses and also purify the soul so that God can dwell within us; he called upon Christians to shun their sinful ways to benefit from the fasting season.
“A good Christian is supposed to intensify their prayer life, to intensify self-denial, self-control, and self-mastery. That is fasting. And almsgiving; the more you give, the more you show your faith to God as St James clearly states it, ‘show me your faith and I will show you my action’.”
“After Lent, we expect you to have changed your attitude, mentality, and your relationship with God. We have had many atrocities, we have experienced a lot from politics. It is a time for all of us to reconcile with God and one another. Generally, Lent is reconciliation,” he said.
This year, it is an interesting Lenten season, seeing as it has coincided with the Muslim community’s 30-day Ramadhan fast, with both seasons kicking off on Ash Wednesday.
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