REV. Fr. Thaddeus Agbasonu, has urged Christians to use the period of lent to pray for God to raise good leaders for Nigeria in the 2019 general elections. Agbasonu, Parish Priest, St Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church, Oterufie Abakaliki, Ebonyi State  gave the advice in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

The cleric spoke against the backdrop of this year’s “Ash Wednesday’’ and Valentine’s Day which coincides on Feb. 14.

According to him, that Valentine Day coincides with Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of lent is a sign that people should indulge more in prayers than worldly celebrations.

“Lent is a period of reparation for our sins, a period we Christians observe 40 days veneration for the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ excluding Sundays.

“And it starts with Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Ash Wednesday celebration reminds us that dust we are and dust we shall return, it reminds us that we shall die one day.

“It is a period set aside for Christians to examine themselves and amend their ways. Also it is a period of forgiveness and alms, visit to less privileged and other charity works.’’

He urged Christians to use the period to demonstrate total repentance by asking God for mercy, adding that they should live in accordance with Christian tenets and avoid being carried away by worldly things.

The clergyman, however, urged Christians to use the period to reflect, examine themselves, reconcile with one another and pray for peace in the country, especially as the elections draw close.

He noted that during the period, some corporal works of mercy were expected of Christians to perform such as fasting, visit to the poor and alms given, and helping those who have nobody to help them among others. (NAN)

– Feb.  13, 2018 @ 15:25 GMT |