Lent “a time of prayer, fasting and sharing”: Catholic Archbishop in Gabon

The Lenten Season accords the people of God an opportunity to realize a transformation in their thoughts and day-to-day actions as they reach out to each other with love and compassion and renew their relationship with God, the Archbishop Jean-Patrick Iba-Ba of Gabon’s Catholic Archdiocese of Libreville has said.

In his 2024 Lenten Message, the Archbishop said, “Lent is a time of prayer, fasting and sharing, when we are invited to renew our commitment to God and to our brothers and sisters.”

“It’s time to change our mentalities and habits in this time of transition. It’s an opportunity for each of us to return to the Lord,” he said in his Lenten Message dated Thursday, February 15.

The Gabonese Catholic Archbishop went on to emphasize the need for Christians to “deepen” their relationship with God by the practice of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, the three pillars of the Lenten Season.

“During these forty days, I encourage you to deepen your relationship with God through prayer and meditation on His Word, which is the light of your steps and the lamp of your path,” Archbishop Iba-Ba said.

“May our fasting be a sign of our desire to turn away from sin and draw closer to God, so that a more just and fraternal society may be born in this time of transition”, he also implored.

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He continued, “And may our sharing with those in need be a witness to our love for God and neighbor”.

Archbishop Iba-Ba prayed that this year’s Lenten Season becomes “for all of us a time of conversion, of gratitude to God and of spiritual renewal.”

“May God help us to be witnesses of his love and mercy in the world,” he implored.