Commentary 25/03/05 Ancient sacrifice fuels modern global justice

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Lent reveals the enduring power to inspire, sustain, and amplify movements for social justice

A Catholic woman has her forehead applied with ash by a seminarian on the observance of Ash Wednesday at a church in Manila. (Photo: AFP/ UCAN files)

By Dr. John Singarayar

Published: March 04, 2025 12:58 PM GMT

Updated: March 05, 2025 06:03 AM GMT

In the heart of one of Sao Paulo's favelas, Sister Maria Oliveira ladles steaming feijoada into bowls for hundreds of hungry families. Her soup kitchen, Projeto Esperança (Project Hope), represents a powerful transformation of Lenten tradition into social action. "Empty stomachs can fuel either despair or action," she says. "We chose action."

From Ancient Roots to Modern Activism

The 40-day Christian season of Lent, dating back to the 4th century, has historically been marked by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. This ancient practice mirrors similar periods of spiritual discipline across faith traditions — from Ramadan in Islam to periods of austerity in Buddhism and Hinduism. What began as personal spiritual purification has evolved into a catalyst for collective social transformation.

According to religious historian Dr. Teresa Berger of Yale Divinity School, "Lenten practices have always contained seeds of social justice. The early Church fathers emphasized that true fasting meant sharing bread with the hungry, not merely abstaining from food."

In Brazil, Sister Oliveira's community transformed this ancient tradition of Lenten fasting into a sustained campaign for food security.

"Each meal we forgo funds a community kitchen that now feeds 200 families in our favela," she explains, demonstrating how spiritual sacrifice can manifest as tangible social change.

Global Reverberations

This reimagining of ancient spiritual practices has sparked similar movements worldwide. In Manila's Tondo district, the "Voices of Lent" movement united Catholic churches, Muslim communities, and secular organizations to address housing violations.

Their shared 40-day commitment to amplifying stories of the urban poor forced local authorities to confront long-ignored issues.

The movement has gained momentum in environmental activism. In Germany, the Catholic relief agency Misereor launched its 2024 Lenten campaign with a stark message: "The Amazon is bleeding."

According to Misereor's annual report, by partnering with the Munduruku people, the initiative channeled Lenten donations into legal battles against illegal gold mining. Their efforts contributed to a significant victory when the European Union banned gold imports linked to Amazon deforestation in March 2024, according to German broadcaster Deutsche Welle.

In South Korea, the Catholic Climate Movement redefined sacrifice during Lent when more than 50,000 households slashed energy use by 40%.

According to a report published by the Korean Catholic Climate Action Network, their "Carbon Fast," tracked via a mobile app, pressured Seoul's government to accelerate emissions targets, the Korea Herald reported in April last year.

Meanwhile, in Paris, climate group Alternatiba's 40-day Lenten vigil outside TotalEnergies' headquarters influenced shareholders to scale back Arctic drilling plans, as reported by Le Monde on April 3, 2024.

The Catholic Church's Lenten Campaign for Hunger and Peace

The Catholic Church's global Lenten Campaign for Hunger and Peace represents one of the most significant institutional efforts to harness this ancient tradition for contemporary challenges. Established by Pope Paul VI in 1967, this worldwide initiative has evolved from simple almsgiving to addressing systemic causes of poverty and conflict.

In India, the campaign has taken on distinctive characteristics, reflecting the country's unique challenges.

According to Caritas India's 2023 annual report, their "40 Days for Life and Dignity" campaign mobilized over 600 parishes across 12 states to address food insecurity and religious discrimination.

In Kerala, the campaign funded sustainable agriculture initiatives that helped 3,000 small-scale farmers transition to organic methods, while in Jharkhand, it supported legal aid for indigenous communities facing displacement.

Archbishop Thomas D'Souza of Calcutta, who was chairman of Caritas India in 2023, noted: "Our Lenten campaign is not simply about charity but about transforming unjust structures. We ask people not just to give up luxuries but to give up indifference."

The campaign raised approximately 120 million rupees (approximately $1.5 million) during Lent 2023, with 85% going to domestic programs and 15% to international solidarity efforts, Indian Catholic Matters reported in May 2023.

Globally, the Lenten Campaign for Hunger and Peace has established enduring institutions in over 100 countries. In El Salvador, it supports cooperatives founded during the civil war that now provide livelihoods for thousands.

In Rwanda, it funds reconciliation programs bringing together perpetrators and survivors of genocide. According to the Pontifical Council Cor Unum's 2023 report, the campaign raised over €500 million (US$524.6 million) globally, representing one of the largest faith-based humanitarian initiatives in the world.

Transformative Power in Conflict Zones

The transformation of Lenten practices has proven particularly powerful in conflict zones. In Ukraine, Orthodox priests reimagined the traditional fast as a platform for peacebuilding.

Father Dmitri Kovlov's "Breaking Bread, Building Peace" initiative brings together divided communities for dialogue.

"In times of war," he says, "our Lenten sacrifice must be our prejudices, not just our food."

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s news site, Religiyna Pravda, reported that over 50 communities participated in these reconciliation meals during Lent 2024

The movement has even influenced corporate behavior. In Germany, the "Corporate Conscience Campaign" documented by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung last year saw business leaders commit to 40 days of ethical business practices and worker-centered policies, resulting in improved labor relations and increased social responsibility investments.

Embodied Sacrifice

Perhaps most striking was the impact in the Philippines, where Lent 2023 brought significant change to Negros Occidental.

For 40 days, 200 farmers lived  on coconut water and rice gruel, their bodies becoming living testimonies to injustice. According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, their demand for the return of ancestral lands seized by sugar barons succeeded, with the government redistributing 1,200 hectares by Easter.

In Kenya, the 2024 "40 Days of Mourning" campaign transformed Lent into a powerful statement against gender-based violence. After a tragic January saw 45 women murdered, Catholic nuns and Muslim leaders launched nightly vigils outside courthouses. The Nationnewspaper at the time reported that their persistent protests pressured President Ruto to fast-track a Family Protection Bill, imposing life sentences for femicide.

Even in Haiti's challenging conditions, Lent inspired creative solutions. The Church's "40 Days of Light" campaign distributed 15,000 solar lamps in gang-controlled Port-au-Prince, funded by meals forgone during the Lenten fast.

"No electricity? We became the light," youth coordinator Jean-Paul Desrosiers, was quoted in The Miami Herald's coverage of the initiative.

Digital Amplification and Lasting Impact

The digital age has amplified these voices of hope. The "#40DaysOfJustice" social media campaign connected activists across continents, from indigenous rights defenders in Bolivia to anti-trafficking organizations in Thailand, sharing daily testimonies of challenges and transformation. According to an April 2024 report by the World Council of Churches, the campaign reached over 10 million people across six continents.

While critics argue these Lenten campaigns risk reducing justice to a seasonal trend, 2024's movements have shown signs of endurance. Germany's Misereor now funds year-round Amazon legal defense, while Kenya's anti-femicide coalition maintains monthly vigils.

In Sao Paulo, Sister Oliveira's kitchen continues beyond the Lenten season, embodying her belief that "Easter is not an endpoint. It is a promise that sacrifice can spur resurrection — in our streets, not just our souls."

Conclusion: Ancient Wisdom, Contemporary Power

These diverse initiatives demonstrate how ancient spiritual practices can illuminate paths toward justice and renewal in our fragmented world. The 40-day Lenten journey — with roots stretching back 16 centuries — continues to evolve, offering a powerful template for sustained social engagement in an age of fleeting attention spans and ephemeral activism.

What makes these Lenten-inspired movements particularly effective is their integration of spiritual discipline with social action, personal transformation with systemic change. The ancient wisdom of deliberate sacrifice creates space for deeper reflection on structural injustice while the time-bound nature of the season provides urgency and focus.

As Lent continues to be reimagined across different contexts and cultures, it reveals the enduring power of ancient spiritual practices to inspire, sustain, and amplify movements for justice.

In an era when activism often struggles to maintain staying power, these movements demonstrate that ancient wisdom, when creatively reinterpreted, can provide both the spiritual resources and practical frameworks needed to nurture lasting social transformation.

*The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official editorial position of UCA News.