Laudato Si’ – Lenten Reflections 2019
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
You are invited to entrust yourselves, your families and parishes to the grace of God this Lent and heed this special call to repentance in regard to the way we use and misuse the created gifts of God. All that has been created is a loving gift of the Father. “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28).
Pope Francis frequently repeats his urgent invitation to us to put our faith into action in our decisions and choices. These Lenten reflections can help us to understand the challenges that face our world and are designed to lead us towards practical everyday ways in which we can take better care of our common home.
These Lenten Reflections have been drawn up by the different Departments of the Southern Africa Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) cooperating together and are designed to assist you, the members of our Catholic Family, to seek new ways, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to relate to each other and all creatures.
The FORMAT proposed is a simple one, as laid our on page 2. We use the scriptures and references to Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ to aid our reflection and to emphasise the invitation to repentance, which this Lent is a God-inspired change of heart in the way we relate to each other and to creation.
In each section there are also references made so as to provide some guidance to a deeper study of Laudato Si’.
In the APPENDIX there is a format of the EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE than can be used in Penitential Liturgies or in private preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
It is my fervent hope and prayer that this be a God-filled moment for us who are God’s work of art, “Created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.” (Ephesians 2:10).
+Edward Risi OMI
Department of Christian Formation, Liturgy and Culture.
