In his Ash Wednesday reflection from Santa Sabina—the ancient Dominican basilica in Rome where the Pope traditionally begins Lent—Fr Patrick highlights three meaningful reasons why this church is such a fitting place to start the Lenten season:
- The climb up the hill: Reaching Santa Sabina requires a physical ascent, symbolising the effort, discipline, and spiritual “uphill journey” we undertake during Lent.
- The graceful rows of columns: These evoke the sense of standing together in Militia Christi—the “Army of Christ”—reminding us that Lent calls us to recommit ourselves to Christ’s mission with renewed purpose.
- The oldest known image of Christ on the cross: This ancient depiction grounds our Lenten journey in the mystery of Christ’s sacrifice, inviting us into deeper contemplation of His love.
Fr Patrick sends his prayers from Santa Sabina and asks us to keep the community there in our prayers as we begin this sacred season.
A question to ponder this first Sunday of Lent:
What step—however small—is Christ inviting me to take as I begin my own Lenten ascent toward Easter?
Watch the short video from Fr Patrick here and see some beautiful images of Santa Sabina.
