Lent is a time of grace, a unique opportunity to renew the heart and turn it toward God. But how can we truly live it in depth, without reducing it to mere formal renunciations?
Monsignor Bruno Forte, archbishop of the Diocese of Chieti-Vasto, takes us by the hand and introduces us to the Season of Lent, helping us gain a deeper understanding of it and live it with a renewed spirit.
Lent: an opportunity not to be missed
Each year we are offered the opportunity to rediscover our faith, but how often do we let this opportunity pass without fully appreciating its value?
Lent is a time of conversion, a journey that leads us to Easter, the heart of our faith. Monsignor Forte emphasizes that Lent is not merely a period of sacrifice, but an opportunity for spiritual growth, a journey that requires concrete choices. Among these is fasting, not simply abstaining from food, but a means of freeing ourselves from what weighs down the soul and opening ourselves to God’s grace.
Fasting to rediscover God
The value of fasting is recognized in the great monotheistic religions. Monsignor Forte describes it as an act of humility, a “bowing of the soul” before God. But are we truly aware of what fasting means? And how can we do it properly, without reducing it to a mere exercise of willpower?
The book “Letters to the People of God” offers a valuable guide to understanding the true meaning of fasting and transforming it into a profound spiritual experience. Through the words of Monsignor Forte, we can learn that fasting is not merely deprivation, but an act of love, an exercise that helps us recognize our dependence on God and open our hearts to others.
Fasting and sharing: an authentic journey of faith
Because fasting is not only a personal experience: it is inextricably linked to charity. In fact, Monsignor Bruno Forte explains how this spiritual gesture urges us to «accompany those who suffer in their pain and help those in need, in solidarity as children before the one Father». Fasting therefore means giving up something in order to give ourselves to others, making room for sharing and compassion.
How can we live out this dimension in our everyday lives? In the book “Letters to the People of God” Monsignor Forte guides us on a journey to rediscover fasting as a means of opening ourselves to others, helping us understand how to transform renunciation into an opportunity to give.
Fasting from the logic of power
We live in a world dominated by efficiency, power, and appearances. Yet Lent invites us to a complete reversal: to fast from the logic of domination and success and enter into the logic of love and service.
Monsignor Forte offers us a profound reflection: fasting is not only physical, but also interior. It means freeing ourselves from too many words, the desire for control, and the constant search for external validation. It is an experience of waiting and hope, a way to train the heart to desire God above all else.
But how do we practice this inner fast? How do we become silent in order to listen to God? Monsignor Forte offers us a valuable guide to learning how to live this Lenten dimension in a practical way. In the book “Letters to the People of God,” he invites us on a journey to rediscover prayer, simplicity, and inner listening, allowing the Word of God to make room in our lives.
This Lent, choose to make room for God. Discover how to live this journey with the help of Monsignor Bruno Forte.
