Pope Francis calls on Catholics to let season of Lent bring hope

Pope Francis has urged Catholics to let the season of Lent be a journey that will bring the hope of Christ to creation.
The Pope, in his message for Lent, spoke on redemption of creation, destructive power of sin, and healing power of repentance and forgiveness
On redemption of creation, the Pope said celebration of the Paschal Triduum urged Catholics to tundertake a journey of preparation, in the knowledge that our being conformed to Christ (cf. Rom 8:29) is a pric less gift of God’s mercy.
In speaking on the destructive power of sin he said: “When we fail to live as children of God, we often behave in a destructive way towards our neighbours, other creatures and ourselves.
“Unless we tend constantly towards Easter, the horizon of the Resurrection, the mentality expressed in the slogans ‘I want it all and I want it now’ and ‘Too much is never enough’, gains the upper hand.
On the topic of the healing power of repentance and forgiveness, the Pope said Lent was a sacramental sign of this conversion.
The Pope said this invited Christians to embody the paschal mystery concretely in their personal, family and social lives, by fasting, prayer and almsgiving.
He said fasting was learning to change our attitude towards others and prayer taught people about the need of the Lord and his mercy
“Rediscovering the joy of God’s plan for creation and for each of us, which is to love him, is to find in this love our true happiness,” the pope said.
“Let us leave behind our selfishness and turn to Jesus’ Pasch.
“Let us stand beside our brothers and sisters in need, sharing our spiritual and material goods with them.
“In this way, by concretely welcoming Christ’s victory over sin and death into our lives, we will also radiate its transforming power to all of creation.”