Lent begins on Wednesday 14 February. This is a time of conversion and penitence in preparation for Easter.
Pope Francis has addressed the following message to all Christians on the occasion of the 2018 Lenten season: “Above all, I urge the members of the Church to take up the Lenten journey with enthusiasm, sustained by almsgiving, fasting and prayer. If, at times, the flame of charity seems to die in our own hearts, know that this is never the case in the heart of God! He constantly gives us a chance to begin loving anew.”
St Anthony himself, during his Lenten preaching of 1231, had underscored the importance of almsgiving and solidarity: “Mercy means ‘that which waters a poor heart.’ Human beings water orchards in order to grow fruit. Why don’t you also water the heart of the poor man with charity, which is also called ‘God’s water,’ so that you may reap the fruit of eternal life. May the poor be your heaven: lay your treasure in them so that your heart may always be with them: and especially during this holy Lenten season. (St Anthony, Ash Wednesday Sermon, 6)
All the celebration of Wednesday 14 February in the Basilica of St Anthony will include the rite of the imposition of the ashes (click here for the timetable). In particular, the 5:00pm Holy Mass, presided over by the Rector, Fr Oliviero Svanera, will be streamed live on this page.