During his Ash Wednesday mass today to mark the beginning of Lent, Archbishop Charles Scicluna preached for this year’s Lenten journey for Maltese Catholics to be characterised by charity, prayer and penance.

On Wednesday morning at the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Paul in Mdina, Archbishop Scicluna preached in his homily that every Lenten season, Jesus sets before us three essential attitudes for the 40 days: charity, prayer, and fasting.

He said that these attitudes should be conducted “as a demonstration of fidelity to God who loves us” and to “renew in us the spirit of Jesus,” and not just for show to other people.

The Archbishop noted that through charity, people can look after each other with love and concrete actions.

Through prayer, we remember that we are living in the presence of God – who he reminded looks at us with mercy and always invites us to dialogue with him internally.

Through fasting, he said that we learn to control elements in our lives that break us down, instead of building us back up. Archbishop Scicluna added that fasting “is not just a matter of not eating but of self-discipline” and that this should help us “reflect on the consequences of what we think, say and do.”

Scicluna recalled that the ancient rite of blessing and placing ashes on people, despite being a penitential rite, also reminds us of “the good news that God loves me.” Hence, he called it a rite of hope. The Archbishop prayed that this Lenten journey turns out to be a truly beautiful journey for all.