Manila, Philippines – Ash Wednesday marks the start of the Lenten Season—which for Christians is a 40-day period for reflection, prayer, and alms giving in preparation for the Holy Week.
Catholic Christians allot this time to emulate and welcome the faith, sacrifice, and resurrection of Jesu Christ.
Among the most common practices during the Lenten Season is fasting or eating one full meal and two smaller meals on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and abstinence or the obligatory non-eating of meat on Ash Wednesday and every Friday of Lent.
But aside from food fasting, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) encourages the faithful to practice different forms such as Digital Media fasting.
CBCP noted that fasting is a practice of avoiding things that are a distraction to our faith and spiritual focus.
And amidst the times of modern technology, where people spend lots of their time using gadgets, this may lead to distraction, fatigue, lack of focus, weakened social relationships and spiritual awareness.
CBCP said that committing to digital media fasting is significant in allowing time for silence, prayer, and reflection amid the challenges in the present.
Some of the practical ways to commit to digital media fasting includes:
- Avoiding phone and gadget usage before sleep and upon waking.
- Limit usage of social media scrolling and streaming time.
- Observe device-free meals and gatherings.
- Practicing occasional 24 hour or weekend digital media fasting.
- Remove distracting apps.
- Replace screentime with time for prayer, reading, and conversations.
CBCP encourages the members of the Church, the faithful, and the general public to practice digital media fasting during the lenten season.—Mia Layaguin, Eurotv News