The Ash Wednesday Mass, which is regarded as the beginning of the “Lent”, and starts before the Easter (Resurrection) Day, was held in the Iskenderun Latin Catholic Church.
In the mass led by the Anatolian Apostle Deputy and Bishop Paolo Bizzeti and the Father of the Church Dariusz Dogondke, the father blessed the believers by pouring ashes in the form of a cross on their heads. The Bishop Bizzeti, who gave a sermon after reading the sections from the Gospel, explained the importance of the Easter (Resurrection) period.
Monsignor Bizzeti, who noted that the Easter period consists of “prayer, charity and fasting”; “What is the meaning of these 3 words and how do we need to experience them? We think that we gain the grace of God by fasting, giving alms, and praying. There is no such thing in the Bible. It is not necessary to win neither God nor heaven. God created us because he is love. Prayer, charity and fasting are necessary for us! While doing these, we realize that there are more needy people around us than we are, we need to help.
My life has a meaning. It doesn’t make sense if we only think about our loved ones. Fasting benefits us above all else. Prayer is also important, we realize that we do not own life.
It is also very important to confess during this period. If we do not want God to forgive, we remain sad. The Easter period is therefore a time of salvation. On the way to Easter, God wants to give us his own happiness… Prayer, charity and fasting will give serenity and peace” he said.
With the mass that realized, Catholics from İskenderun started a 40-day fast until the Easter (Resurrection). The church congregation always fasts on Ash Wednesday and on the day of the crucifixion of Christ, which is called Good Friday. Fasting on other days is the congregation’s own initiative.
The 40-day fasting is to remember the 40 days that Jesus Christ spent in the desert praying and fasting before he began his mission. (SAT-7 Turk / İlyas Edip TERBİYELİ-İskenderun)
