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Pope urges Christians to resist temptation, pursue charity at Lent
Mar 9, 2011, 14:36 GMT
Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday ushered in this year's Lent fasting season with a call for resisting temptation and carrying out charity.
'Today the Church celebrates Ash Wednesday, the beginning of her Lenten journey towards Easter,' Benedict said during his regular mid- week general audience at the Vatican.
'This spiritual journey is traditionally marked by the practice of fasting, giving alms and prayer,' he said.
The pontiff also noted that fasting involves not just 'abstinence from food, but also and above all from sin.'
Acts of charity, meanwhile, would benefit not only the 'rich and wealthy,' but also those living in 'modest and poor conditions,' he said.
The six-week fasting season of Lent leads up to Easter, the most important tradition in the Catholic Church.
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