NORTH PROVIDENCE -Bishop Thomas J. Tobin told worshippers attending an Ash Wednesday Mass celebrated in the chapel of Our Lady of Fatima Hospital that the words of St. Paul set the theme for Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent.
"We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to Christ," the bishop said, recalling the saint's important message.
The Mass was concelebrated by Our Lady of Fatima and St. Joseph Hospital for Specialty Care chaplains Opus Spiritus Sancti Father Thomas Valayathil, Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Father Robert A. Shaldone and Father Robert E. Lacombe. The bishop's secretary, Father Michael A. Colello, and Deacon Robert J. C. Persson were also in attendance.
"Lent is a special time of repentance, reconciliation and renewal," Bishop Tobin said.
"Why is reconciliation necessary?" he asked. "Because of sin."
The bishop noted that Catholics are constantly confronted by original, social and personal sins.
"We have to take sin seriously," Bishop Tobin cautioned the communicants, adding that sin is "real and dangerous.
"It causes enormous suffering in the world and can separate you from God," he warned.
The bishop mentioned former vice president Al Gore's thought-provoking documentary titled "An Inconvenient Truth" and noted that Catholics today are faced with another inconvenient truth - a troubled moral and spiritual environment that "is challenged and troubled by sin."
Bishop Tobin stated that Catholics today are constantly confronted by the sins of abortion, homosexuality, stem cell manipulation, marital infidelity, violence, pornography and political corruption.
The bishop added that the disciplines of Lent - prayer, fasting and good works - provide Catholics with "weapons" that we need to strengthen our relationship with God.
Bishop Tobin told those in attendance that prayer opens the faithful to the Spirit of God, while fasting is the discipline that makes us stronger. Good works, such as almsgiving, visiting the sick and reaching out to those who are lonely or in need lets us "open our hearts to our brothers and sisters."
"Lent has a total package - a goal, obstacles and weapons," Bishop Tobin remarked.
"As you receive ashes, don't do it lightly," the bishop emphasized. "It is a public sign of serious, personal commitment, a commitment that takes you from death of sin to life with Christ."
Elena Lamanna, a parishioner of Holy Ghost Church, Providence, said she thought the bishop's homily was very inspirational and helpful to her observance of Lent.
"I think that this is the most beautiful Mass ever celebrated at Our Lady of Fatima Chapel," she said.
"The bishop hit every point," Lamanna added. "He addressed every element that needs addressing."
La Salle Academy students and altar servers Vincent and Peter Blais agreed that Bishop Tobin's homily provided listeners with rich spiritual food to take with them on their Lenten journey.
"Hearing the bishop speak was inspirational, as was hearing his thoughts on the season," said Vincent, a senior at the school.
Father Valayathil said the bishop's important message invited him "to go outside of myself to reconcile and to work for unity and harmony, and to follow faithfully the values of the Gospel and to inspire the people with what I have learned from his homily."
Bishop Tobin thanked the hospital chaplains, pastoral care ministers, administrators and employees in attendance "for their dedicated ministry on behalf of the sick and their families."
(This article originally published in The Providence Visitor)
