It is a time for conversion, a time for change, a time for forgiveness, it is the time of Lent. Every year our Lord grants us this opportunity, which, although it is repeated, is always new and full of dynamism. The imposition of ashes on the first Wednesday of Lent reminds us that we must put aside that which does not serve us well and slows our progress, or even prevents us from reaching God and ourselves as His children. Because of the Catholic identity of our school, we celebrated the imposition of ashes on all students this Wednesday, March 5th, in the chapel, by our chaplain, Father Javier Rodríguez.
To help us live this Lenten season, our beloved Pope Francis has shared these words with all Christians:
“Dear brothers and sisters, may this Lenten season find the whole Church ready and eager to bear witness to the Gospel message—which is summed up in the proclamation of the love of the merciful Father, ready to embrace every person in Christ—to all those who live in material, moral, and spiritual poverty. We will be able to do this to the extent that we conform ourselves to Christ, who became poor and enriched us with his poverty. Lent is a fitting time for self-denial; and it will do us good to ask ourselves what we can give up in order to help and enrich others with our poverty. Let us not forget that true poverty hurts: self-denial would be meaningless without this penitential dimension. I distrust almsgiving that costs nothing and causes no pain.”
May the Holy Spirit, through whom we “are like the poor, yet making many rich; like those in need, yet possessing everything” (2 Corinthians 6:10), sustain our resolve and strengthen in us our concern and responsibility for human suffering, so that we may be merciful and agents of mercy. With this desire, I assure you of my prayers for all believers. May every ecclesial community make a fruitful journey through Lent. I ask you to pray for me. May the Lord bless you and the Virgin Mary keep you.
