The Church lives Christ’s redemptive sacrifice throughout the liturgical year. However, in the season of Lent we would like to immerse ourselves in it in a particularly intense way, as the Apostle urges us: "Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation!” (2 Corinthians 6:2). In this important season, the treasures of Redemption, merited for us by Christ crucified and risen, are dispensed to us in a most particular way. Thus the Psalmist’s exclamation: "Create in me a clean heart… and put a new and right spirit within me" becomes during Lent a strong call to conversion.
ST. POPE JOHN PAUL II Homily, Ash Wed., 12 Feb. 1997
