By Katie Ascough - 29 February, 2020
Archbishop Eamon Martin, Primate of All Ireland.
This week Archbishop Eamon Martin launched the #LivingLent initiative on Twitter and Instagram which invites the faithful to use social media to grow closer to God during this sacred season.
Archbishop Martin said, “As we prepare for Easter over the next 40 days, our spiritual conversion can be nourished by daily actions, thoughts, prayers and words. During Lent we also offer a particular sacrifice in our personal lives to help strengthen our relationship with the all-merciful Lord. In his message for Lent 2020 We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God (2 Cor 5:20), we are encouraged by Pope Francis who reminds us, ‘life is born of the love of God our Father from the desire to grant us life in abundance (cf. Jn 10:10)’.”
Archbishop Martin continued, “I invite everyone to read the Holy Father’s short Lenten message. To complement his text our #LivingLent initiative on Twitter and Instagram, and online resources on catholicbishops.ie, offer suggestions for fasting, prayer and charity — the three pillars of the Lenten season. The objective of our Lenten digital initiative is to assist our spiritual preparation for the joy and hope of the Easter season.”
The #LivingLent initiative offers short daily suggestions on Twitter and Instagram. These include prayer and scripture suggestions; opportunities for penance and fasting in our daily lives, for example fasting from gossip, fasting from negativity online, or giving up certain foods; availing of the Sacrament of Confession; suggestions of charitable acts; donating your time by helping your own family, school, or parish; and behaving in a charitable way towards all those whom we meet.
Everyone can use the hashtag #LivingLent and share with their followers how they are putting the themes of prayer, fasting and charity into practice during this Lenten season.
