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A Call to Conversion
Last
Sunday (10th February 2013) our parish priest announced the
beginning of Lent from coming Wednesday – Ash Wednesday. He emphasized the
importance of prayer and penance as part of our Lenten discipline. Basing
myself on many years of pastoral involvement, I am sure many other parish
priests have done the same. I know many lay people and few a bishops, priests
and religious, who give up alcohol and non-vegetarian food during Lent. Many
flock to the Church to participate in the Way of the Cross. Many resume the
recitation of the family rosary. Some even inflict violence on their body. Is
this sort of Lenten observance going to bring about the much needed conversion?
Frankly speaking, I have my serious doubts.