Christians should devote themselves to serious prayers, fasting and almsgiving during Lent, said Reverend Father Longinus Ugonwa, the Parish Priest of Christ the King Catholic Church, GRA Enugu.

Mr Ugonwa said that by doing so, they would be preparing themselves for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that they would celebrate on Easter Sunday. 

He gave the advice on Ash Wednesday when Catholic faithful and other Christians all over the world started the 40 days of fasting usually called the Lenten period.

The priest hinted that the celebration, which involves the application of ash on the foreheads of Christians, was a reminder that from dust we came and to dust we would return. 

“And in the general analysis, Ash Wednesday tells us that we need to do certain things: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to realign ourselves with the dictates, mandates and principles of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“It is to correct the rough edges in our lives, especially, the sinful dispositions. The period of Lent brings us to the right direction.

“There is a need for us, Christians, to pray and fast during this Lenten season”, Mr Ugonwa added.  

The priest enjoined Christians to be more charitable to the less privileged ones in the society, which he stressed, was in accordance with the dictates of the Lenten season. 

Mr Ugonwa also called on both the federal and state governments to look into the plights of the people, especially workers, with a view to improving the living conditions of Nigerians.

In an interview, one of the parishioners, Ifunanya Ozougwu,said that she would use the period to amend her ways and also reconcile with God, in order to have a meaningful Lenten period.

According to Mrs Ozougwu, this is a period in which Christians are expected to be a better version of them, by being good to others. 

(NAN)