Ouagadougou: Lent should not be a 'spiritual competition' or a 'contest of disastrous looks,' but a call to a righteous life beyond the 40 days, it was recommended. In front of a cathedral packed both inside and out with worshippers who had come to mark the beginning of this forty-day period of penance, the priest celebrating Mass, Father Charles Ouanga, firmly denounced a superficial view of religious practice.

According to Burkina Information Agency, Father Ouanga emphasized that merely abstaining from food, beer, and meat while continuing to engage in gossip, anger, slander, and pride equates to nothing more than a hunger strike. He criticized those who turn this reflective period into a competition of grim expressions, urging for a deeper, more sincere engagement with the spiritual aspects of Lent.

Addressing the congregation with a mix of calmness and irony, Father Ouanga cautioned against the allure of showing off one's spirituality, especially in the era of social media. He noted that divine acknowledgment does not require public displays or social media followers, stressing the importance of genuine charity and humility over superficial gestures.

Father Ouanga made it clear that fasting should not serve as a substitute but as a path to conversion. He stated that Lent is not a means to balance out injustices, lack of forgiveness, or infidelity, but rather a time to foster a righteous lifestyle. The internal aspect of Lent was highlighted, with Father Ouanga noting that fasting devoid of prayer only exhausts the body without feeding the soul.

The priest called on the congregation to view these forty days not merely as an interlude but as a foundation for lasting change. He concluded by suggesting that a successful Lent would be marked by increased humility, patience, spirituality, and kindness, indicating that these virtues are the true fruits of the Lenten season.

Ash Wednesday signifies the start of Lent for Catholics, initiating a period characterized by fasting, penance, sharing, and prayer, which culminates with Good Friday and the Easter celebration.