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Our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, has chosen as the theme for his Lenten reflection this year a passage from the Acts of the Apostles: "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). As is his custom, the Holy Father once again invites us to go beneath the surface of these words to find their deeper meaning. This Lent, Pope John Paul II calls us to examine our reasons for giving and to seek to purify our motivations in order that we might give freely of ourselves to others. In doing so, we act in imitation of Christ, who poured Himself out for us and our salvation. As we begin this Lenten Season, I pray with Pope John Paul II that the Holy Spirit might shape our hearts in the selfless love of Christ, in order that we might give of ourselves to others from the abundance of mercy and love we have first received from our heavenly Father. During this Lenten Season, I pray that we might be provided the grace to give freely of ourselves in our relationships at home, in the workplace, in the community, in places of education, and in our parishes. By our selfless giving, may the world be enriched by our example of charity and our good deeds. Our Holy Father rightly calls such an attitude and way of life of the Christian a "vocation to charity." It is precisely by living out this vocation to charity that the Christian grows in holiness and the world experiences a new evangelization. May our living out of this vocation during the holy season of Lent lead us in the ways of holiness, and may the world be transformed by our lives formed by the Gospel. To the auxiliary bishops, priests, deacons, men and women religious, and lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Hartford, I extend a pledge of prayers that you may grow in the vocation of charity during this Lenten Season. With every prayerful best wish, I remain Sincerely in Christ,
+Daniel A. Cronin
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