Pope Leo’s Lenten Message – continued
In this section of his Lenten Message Pope Leo reminds us that whatever we do for Lent it should not result in pride but in humility because all our successes are because of God’s help and for the we should give thanks and remain humble.
However, in order to practice fasting in accordance with its evangelical character and avoid the temptation that leads to pride, it must be lived in faith and humility. It must be grounded in communion with the Lord, because “those who are unable to nourish themselves with the word of God do not fast properly.”[3] As a visible sign of our inner commitment to turn away from sin and evil with the help of grace, fasting must also include other forms of self-denial aimed at helping us to acquire a more sober lifestyle, since “austerity alone makes the Christian life strong and authentic.”
