5th Mar, 2025 . John Sixtus Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of LENTEN Season. The following are the highlights of Lent.

1. *The Ash*: reminds us of the human frailty, our temporalness of nature, our weaknesses as mortals. We are but ash and ash we shall return 

2. It is a moment of sober reflection and spiritual meditations. 

3. It is period of repentance and returning back to God

4. Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. 

We shall reflect on this highlights daily for the period of 40 days.

Let us be prepared to go back to God this moment forsaking our sins and worldliness.

I pray for you that God will give you strength to follow Jesus this period of prayer in active reflection and spiritual growth in Jesus mighty name. Amen

THE CODE OF CANON LAW ON FASTING AND ABSTINENCE

- By Divine Law, every baptized Catholic shall do penitence. (Can. 1249)

- Penitence involves prayer, works of charity, self sacrifice in the course of duty and above all, fasting and abstinence. (Can. 1249)

- The days of penitence are Every Friday throughout the year and the entire season of lent. (Can. 1251)

- You shall abstain from meats or other foods prescribed by the Bishops’ Conference. (Can.1251)

- You must fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. (Can. 1251)

- The law of abstinence is binding on anyone who has reached/completed the age of 14. (Can. 1252)

- The law of fasting is binding on anyone who has reached/completed the age of 18 up to those who are below the age of 60. (Can. 1252)

- Parish priests and parents must strive to form those who have not yet attained the ages of fasting or abstinence on the genuine sense of penitence. (Can. 1252)

- The Episcopal Conference can determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence as well as substitute in whole or in part these observances with works of charity and exercises of piety. (Can. 1253)