Fasting

Prayer, almsgiving (charity) and fasting were seen by the early church as naturally supporting and completing each other. They’ve been called, in fact, the three pillars of Christian discipline.

Lent is a time to meditate more deeply on the life of Christ, especially on his passion and crucifixion, and the church provides traditional Lenten practices that help us focus on our relationship with Christ.

This year, Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day fall on the same day. Many will think that we will not be able to celebrate with our partners, but there are interesting parallels between true love as a couple and Lent.

The actor relies on his Catholic faith to guide him both on and off screen, and cites Mass, confession, adoration and the Liturgy of the Hours as priorities.

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence. That is, limited to a single, full meal and abstinence from meat.

“Let us not stop praying, fasting, helping and working so that the paths of peace find space in the jungle of conflicts,” the pope said June 23.

“If there’s effort at all — even if we think it’s measly or small — we are acknowledging that these 40 days are set apart in our year to more fully pay attention to the Lord’s movement in our lives.”

On his Twitter account, Feb. 27, the pope reiterated his invitation for everyone to take part in a Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace in Ukraine on Ash Wednesday, March 2, “in order to be near to the suffering Ukrainian people, to be aware that we are all brothers and sisters, and to implore God for an end to the war.”