Jonah prophesied to the people of Nineveh. "When the people of Nineveh believed God, they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth" (Jon 3:5). All 120,000 citizens of a city steeped in sin, violence, and murder (see Na 3:1ff) repented in one day (Jon 4:11). They expressed their repentance by communal fasting.

Pope John Paul II has prophesied to the people of the world, especially to Catholics in the Western world. He has called our Western society a "culture of death." He has called us to pray that America not lose its soul. The Vatican and the Pope in their directives regarding sex education have described our society as "sick."

We have heard a prophet greater than Jonah (see Lk 11:32). We have heard Pope John Paul II, the Vicar of Christ and the successor of Peter, the head of the apostles. Will we repent? Will our Lenten communal fast express a greater repentance, or at least lead to it? In this Lent, we may be repenting and fasting for our lives, souls, sanity, and humanity. If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts (see Ps 95:7-8). "Now is the acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation!" (2 Cor 6:2)

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, July 26, 1997

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 29, 1997