Pope again to hold '24 hours for the Lord'

The theme from Ps 103: 3: "He forgives all your sins". A guide "to offer some suggestions to allow parishes and Christian communities to prepare themselves to live the initiative 24 hours for the Lord.”

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Despite the pandemic, Pope Francis has established that the "24 hours for the Lord" initiative will also be celebrated this year. As the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization informs, the dates for the "24 hours" will be March 12-13, close to the fourth Sunday of Lent.

The theme chosen for the day is a verse from Ps 103: 3: "He forgives all your sins". In this perspective, the Pontifical Council has prepared the official guidebook in which some suggestions are offered to allow parishes and Christian communities to prepare themselves to live the initiative.

“The first part contains some texts to encourage people to consciously experience the encounter with the priest during the moment of individual confession. They can also be used to prepare (alone or under the guidance of a minister) for perfect contrition, in the event that it is temporarily not possible to approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation”.

"The second part can be used during church hours, so that those who have access to confession, can be helped in prayer and meditation through a path based on the Word of God. This guidebook could also be useful to prepare a catechesis on the need for conversion and on the Sacrament of Reconciliation”.

In the guidebook - published by the Pauline Editions - we read that it "intends to offer some suggestions to allow parishes and Christian communities to prepare themselves to live the initiative 24 hours for the Lord. Obviously, these are proposals that can be adapted according to local needs and customs. On the evening of Friday 12 March and during the whole day of Saturday 13 March, would be a good opportunity to allow for an extraordinary opening of the church, offering the possibility of accessing confessions, preferably in a context of animated Eucharistic adoration ".

"The event could begin on Friday evening with a liturgy of the Word to prepare the faithful for confession, and end with the celebration of Holy Mass on Saturday afternoon. Where, for health reasons, the celebrations of the sacraments are not allowed, or only with a limited number of people, Eucharistic adoration could be streamed online, thus preparing the faithful for perfect contrition, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church says.“

“The first part contains some texts to encourage people to consciously experience the encounter with the priest during the moment of individual confession. They can also be used to prepare (alone or under the guidance of a minister) for perfect contrition, in the event that it is temporarily not possible to approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is also a provocation to overcome any resistance that is often opposed to avoid confession. A testimony is offered that illustrates the path of one's own conversion: a help to reflect on one's own change and on the awareness of the presence of God in everyone's life. The life of a person is also presented, capable of inspiring our lives to perform works of mercy and to continue in personal growth after having received the absolution of sins ".

"The second part can be used during church hours, so that those who have access to confession, can be helped in prayer and meditation through a path based on the Word of God. This guidebook could also be useful to prepare a catechesis on the need for conversion and on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Especially young people, but also adults, ask themselves: why should I confess? How does one confess? What do you do after confession? The Subsidy can represent a valid help in finding the answers”.