This year, Ash Wednesday falls on February 22, 2023. This day also marks the start of 40 days of Christian penance.
The parish priest of Saint Robert de Koloma in the commune of Ratoma discusses the importance of this penance. “Today we begin Lent. The objective is to renew oneself, to be reborn with a new heart. These 40 days of fasting, prayers and almsgiving should lead us to the great feast of the resurrection which is Easter. This festival is that of the Renaissance, of inner renewal, or God forgives us our sins, our shortcomings”, explained Apollinaire Cece Kolié before recalling the activities recommended during this period.
“In the first place, there is fasting which consists of depriving oneself of food, fasting one’s tongue in order to avoid speaking badly of others, one’s eyes in order to avoid looking at bad things, etc. In a word, to make your organs fast so as not to be within reach of the demon, to leave evil for good. Second, is to emphasize prayer. If you are used to praying for 1 hour a day, you should do 2 hours a day while improving the quality of prayer. And the third element is charity. Almsgiving is sharing time. We must help those who do not have it to support themselves. For us, Lent is not the time to spend a lot. It’s time to deprive yourself for others. This is a time when the poor should feel comfortable. These are the three pillars of Lent,” added the parish priest of Saint Robert de Koloma.