The President of the Polish Episcopate calls for a deepening of the spiritual life in Lent
I turn to all the faithful and their pastors with an appeal for a special deepening of their spiritual life in the coming time - wrote Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki, president of the Polish Bishops' Conference, in his Appeal for Lent 2021.
The President of the Episcopate emphasized that despite the difficult pandemic situation and the mandatory sanitary rules, no one may be deprived of access to the Eucharist and other sacraments.
The President of the Episcopate stressed that no one should be left without proper spiritual care. "I encourage priests to be zealous in the confessional; to adapt the rhythm of confession to the current possibilities and needs of the faithful and to sanitary regulations; to create opportunities for the faithful to participate in parish and community retreats, either remotely or in person", he wrote.
"I am asking all the faithful to draw as much as possible from the Lenten practices, i.e. fasting, prayer and almsgiving, and other forms of piety, including the Way of the Cross, the celebration of passion 'Gorzkie Żale' and others" - noted the president of the Polish Bishops' Conference.
Press Office of the Polish Bishops' Conference
We publish the full text of the Appeal:
APPEAL
OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE POLISH BISHOPS' CONFERENCE
FOR LENT 2021
Next Wednesday we will start Lent. Once again, we will experience this time in an extraordinary situation of pandemic and sanitary restrictions, which – although difficult – are an expression of responsible care for the health and life of all of us.
Lent is a time of conversion and preparation for the celebration of Easter – Christ's victory over sin and death. The hope that comes from faith in the resurrection helps us to endure the saddest days and the greatest tragedies, times of fear and hopelessness, and at the same time encourages us to seek and carry out God's will in our lives.
How deeply we will experience the upcoming Easter depends, among others, on the disposition of our hearts and proper preparation for them during Lent. Therefore, I turn to all the faithful and their pastors with an appeal for a special deepening of the spiritual life in the coming time.
Despite the difficult pandemic situation and the mandatory sanitary rules, no one can be deprived of access to the Eucharist and other sacraments, i.e. the greatest treasure of the Church, through which Christ gives himself to the community of believers and provides us with a share in the fruits of his saving passion.
Appropriate spiritual care should not be lacking for anyone. I encourage priests to be zealous in the confessional; to adapt the rhythm of confession to the current possibilities and needs of the faithful and to sanitary regulations; to create opportunities for the faithful to participate in parish and community retreats, either remotely or in person".
I am asking all the faithful to draw as much as possible from the Lenten practices, i.e. fasting, prayer and almsgiving, and other forms of piety, including the Way of the Cross, the celebration of passion 'Gorzkie Żale' and others.
May the difficult time - which we have been going through for over a year – not weaken our zeal, but become an impulse for the development of our trust and faith in the Risen Lord.
+ Stanisław Gądecki
Metropolitan Archbishop of Poznań
President of the Polish Bishops' Conference
Vice-President of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE)
Warsaw, February 10, 2021
Office for Foreign Communication of the Polish Bishops' Conference
