Mexico City, Mexico, Feb 27, 2009 / 20:55 pm
The Archbishop of Mexico City, Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, celebrated Ash Wednesday Mass at the archdiocesan Cathedral and said, “Lent reminds us that the Christian life is a relentless battle in which we must use the weapons of prayer, fasting and penance.”
As he distributed the ashes, he explained, “Lent is not mere ritualism, but rather a time of reflection and conversion.” Conversion, the cardinal said, “is a spiritual battle that involves the entire person “against sin, and ultimately, against Satan.”
Cardinal Rivera also called on Mexicans to fight against “every kind of selfishness and hatred.” “Dying to oneself to live in God is the aesthetic path that all the disciples of Jesus are called to take with humility and patience, with generosity and perseverance.”
Likewise, he invited the faithful to translate “concrete gestures towards one’s neighbor” into love, especially towards the poor and those in need. Christians should respond to evil in the world not with vengeance or hatred, or by “fleeing towards a false spiritualism,” but rather “by opposing evil with good, lies with the truth, hatred with love,” he said.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
At Catholic News Agency, our team is committed to reporting the truth with courage, integrity, and fidelity to our faith. We provide news about the Church and the world, as seen through the teachings of the Catholic Church. When you subscribe to the CNA UPDATE, we'll send you a daily email with links to the news you need and, occasionally, breaking news.
As part of this free service you may receive occasional offers from us at EWTN News and EWTN. We won't rent or sell your information, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Click hereOur mission is the truth. Join us!
Your monthly donation will help our team continue reporting the truth, with fairness, integrity, and fidelity to Jesus Christ and his Church.
Donate to CNA