The head of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has counted on the faithful to have a deeper appreciation of having themselves configured to Christ this Lent by doing deeds of mercy and compassion.
"One of the underlying liturgical themes during Lent is in fact the reexamination or revisit of our baptismal gift, that is, our being configured into Christ in baptism," CBCP President and Davao Archbishop Romulo G.Valles said in his Lenten message.
"Thus, my hope and prayer during these very trying times because of the pandemic and its multifaceted negative consequences affecting all of us, is that we come to a deeper appreciation of our being configured to Christ," he added.
To be reconfigured to Christ, Valles said, concretely means "to do deeds of mercy and compassion, simply carrying our own cross and helping and inspiring others to carry theirs."
"During Lent we are inspired and reminded to carry our cross with confidence and with hope that we will triumph in the end. In this way, during Lent we treasure again our baptismal dignity, and if we experience that we well disposed to meet the risen Lord in our celebration of the Paschal Triduum," he said.
"Together with our prayers, our fasting, and our participation in the solemn liturgical celebrations, we also exert earnest effort at doing works of charity and solidarity with those who are most suffering among us in these difficult days of the pandemic," added Valles.
Lent is a time when Catholics are enjoined to do good works, fast and pray.
Catholics observed the start of the Lenten season on February 17 with Ash Wednesday.
During Ash Wednesday, the faithful usually have their foreheads marked with ashes (from the burnt palm fronds) as a sign of penance.
Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, however, the CBCP asked priests to sprinkle the ashes on the head to safeguard the health of the faithful.