Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids, including milk and fruit juices are allowed. Lent is a journey of evolving, creative reflection which inspires penance and gives new impetus to every aspect of our commitment to follow the Gospel. It is a journey of love which opens the hearts of believers to our brothers and sisters and draws them to God. Each day we encounter people who are hungry, thirsty or sick, people who are outcasts or migrants. During this season of Lent we are invited to pay greater heed to the suffering written on their faces, faces which challenge us to acknowledge the various aspects of poverty that continue in our time.
Hunger is a great tragedy afflicting humanity.
We urgently need to acknowledge this fact and to offer resolute and generous support to various Organizations and Movements founded to alleviate the sufferings of those who risk death from starvation, giving special consideration to those people not reached by government or international programmes. It is necessary to continue the fight against hunger both in less developed countries and in highly industrialized nations where, unfortunately, there is an ever growing gap separating the rich from the poor. The earth has the resources necessary to feed all humanity. We need to learn to use them intelligently, respecting the environment and the rhythms of nature, guaranteeing fairness and justice in business dealings and ensuringa distribution of wealth which takes into account the duty of solidarity. Some might object that this is a grand and unachievable utopia.