Beirut: In his "Message of Lent" to believers, Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, emphasized the importance of fasting, prayer, and charity during this sacred period. "Lent is a collective journey," he stated, urging followers to emulate the Lord Jesus, who fasted for forty days and nights, as described in Matthew 4:2.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the Patriarch explained that the forty-day journey is founded on fasting, prayer, and charity. These elements are integrated and interconnected, forming the core of this spiritual period. Al-Rahi described Lent as an "acceptable season" with spiritual and human benefits, derived from fasting, prayer, almsgiving, repentance, and reconciliation. It is a "season of grace" that invites believers to transition into a new life through Christ's Passover.
Addressing believers, the Patriarch highlighted that sharing and partnership can help overcome the temptations of selfishness, greed, and the love of money. He expressed a prayerful wish for God's grace to be bestowed upon the Church's followers, including pastors, priests, monks, nuns, and the faithful, both in Lebanon and across the Diaspora. Al-Rahi concluded by seeking stability and peace for their homelands, in glorification of the Holy Trinity.