His Grace Bishop Ignatie officiated at Vespers on Sunday at the Diocesan Cathedral in Huși and emphasized that authentic fasting aims to dispassion. “Let us try to fast also from using digital media, by which we are all dominated and captive to what it offers us,” the Bishop of Huși explained.

“Starting with this evening’s Vespers service, we have entered into the deep, spiritual atmosphere of one of the most beautiful times of the Church year, Great Lent.”

“It is not enough to abstain from certain foods, but, as emphasized in many of our services, we must also fast from evil, from bad words, from unclean thoughts, to renounce the vices that plague our souls,” the Bishop added.

Period of spiritual preparation

Bishop Ignatie stressed that Lent is a period of spiritual preparation for the Feast of the Resurrection.

“It is a period of preparation, of intense prayer, of the struggle to gain more humility, to perform good deeds, to partake of the Body and Blood of Christ and to attend the Divine Liturgy more often.”

“We are invited to turn to ourselves, to turn to those that belong to our inner self, to pull out the weeds of sin that trouble us and lets in much restlessness.”

A spiritual exercise to overcome passions

The Bishop of Husi also noted that fasting is a permanent exercise to overcome our passions and addictions. “Let us try at least the first week of Lent, not to use the internet at all, nor social networks and other means of instant messaging.”

“We will notice that it is very hard, that it is addictive, that it is like a drug. The phone is always with us. It is omnipresent. It’s a great exercise of will to use the phone just to talk to people we want to say something to.”

“We will find, with great joy, that this liberation from digital media will bring us great peace of mind. We will have more peace of mind, more peace of heart.”

“Technology is a gift from God, a blessing. What matters is how we use technology and how we relate to it. It can be a blessed thing, but also something that can pollute our soul,” the Bishop concluded.

Photo: Diocese of Huși