TURNING AWAY from digital gadgets, social media, online entertainment and gaming is also a form of penance that Catholics can do for Lent, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said in a pastoral letter on Feb. 13.
Lipa Archbishop Gilbert Garcera, president of the CBCP, stressed that fasting, one of the pillars of Lent, must adapt to the “new realities” humans live in.
“Today, constant engagement with phones, social media, streaming, gaming, and online entertainment often absorbs our attention and weakens our interior life,” Garcera said.
Garcera said gadgets should not dominate human life, as it can leave little room for silence and reflection.
“Many struggle to be present to God and others because screens constantly demand attention. Digital media fasting helps restore balance,” he said.
Excessive use causes fatigue, loss of focus, weakened relationships and diminished spiritual awareness, he added.
For Garcera, screen time can be replaced by prayer, service, reading scripture and even conversion.
“In stepping back from digital excess, we reclaim interior silence, deepen relationships, and rediscover God’s presence in daily life,” Garcera concluded.
He urged Catholics to avoid using phones before sleeping and upon waking, put away devices during meals and gatherings, and delete distracting apps from devices.
Catholics observe Ash Wednesday on Feb. 18, marking the beginning of the liturgical season of Lent, focused on conversion, renewal of faith and penance.
Fasting requires the faithful to eat only one full meal and two smaller meals a day, while abstinence is the practice of avoiding all meat.
Fasting is required for the faithful aged 18 to 59 on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Abstinence must be practiced by Catholics aged 14 and above on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all Fridays of Lent. Y.A.R. Osea
