Time to improve - Lenten period

ORIGINALLY conceived as a time of religious reflection to help Christians rediscover their faith through prayer, penance and fasting, Lent as it was known to generations of Irish people was based on the 40-day fast of Jesus in the desert. 

Today, however, it has become a trendy way of improving one’s health.

People of all religions and none regard it as a symbolic gesture, a means of prolonging their life by taking better care of themselves while saving money at the same time. Drink and drugs, in the form of booze and fags, usually top the self-improvement list. And with anti-obesity campaigns sweeping the country, many are giving up sweets and other food with high sugar levels which pose a risk of diabetes in a population where the condition is growing rapidly.

It would be wrong to spurn the emphasis placed on Lent for health reasons. To underline its spiritual meaning and help people through, the Catholic bishops have set up a Facebook page. And Trócaire’s Lenten campaign, which last year raised €7.8m for charity, means it is a time to give generously.