Ash Wednesday ushers in Lent: Don’t be hypocrites

MANILA, Philippines – As the Catholic faithful flocked to churches yesterday to have foreheads daubed with ash, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle had a message in this Lenten and election season: don’t be hypocrites, and don’t use Lenten rituals for publicity stunts.

In his homily during the morning mass for Ash Wednesday that heralded the start of the 40-day Lenten season, Tagle said that some people might take advantage of the call to be charitable to glorify themselves. 

He reminded the faithful of Jesus’ teaching, that when one gives alms, one should do it secretly and not turn it into photo opportunities, like hypocrites who only want to be praised by others.

Aside from the “photo ops” when showing off their generosity, Tagle also discouraged people from spending a long time kneeling in church just to project themselves as pious.

He said the church must also not be turned into a venue for fashion shows in order to draw attention to oneself.

“When you do not think of others or God when you do a generous act, and only want to draw attention to yourself, this is an insult to the one receiving your alms because your true intention is not to help… you are using that person for your own benefit. That is not being generous, that is not being charitable,” Tagle added.

He said that during this season, the faithful are encouraged to prepare for God’s resurrection that would fall on Easter Sunday and asked that they return to the Lord.

Alms giving is one of three ways to renew ties with God during Lent.

The other two are praying and offering sacrifice such as fasting. Tagle also said that when people decide to fast, they should not be motivated by the prospect of losing weight or saving money.

He also asked that the savings from fasting be donated to the Archdiocese of Manila’s Pondo ng Pinoy and Fast2Feed of Hapag-Asa to feed hungry and malnourished children.