The days of penance to be observed under obligation are Ash Wednesday and all Fridays of the Lenten
season. Abstinence from meat is to be observed on all Fridays of Lent. Both abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. The law of abstinence: Forbids the consumption of meat and binds those who have celebrated their 14th birthday. The law of fasting: Permits only one full meal a day and binds those who have celebrated their 18th birthday and continues until they have celebrated their 59th birthday. Pastors and parents should take particular care to educate the young to a true sense of penance and self-discipline. More frequent use of the Sacrament of Penance and attendance at daily Mass should be encouraged during Lent, as well as other practices of penance and self-sacrifice.

Dear brothers and sisters!

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke all recount the episode of the Transfiguration of Jesus. There we see the Lord’s response to the failure of his disciples to understand him. Shortly before, there had been a real clash between the Master and Simon Peter, who, after professing his faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, rejected his prediction of the passion and the cross. Jesus had firmly rebuked him: “Get behind me, Satan! You are a scandal to me, because you do not think according to God, but according to men!” (Mt 16:23). Following this, “six days later, Jesus took with him Peter, James and John his brother and led them away to a high mountain” (Mt 17:1). Read more...