When the Church urges us to follow Jesus into the desert she asks us to take part in God's battle against the Evil One. This battle, which will continue until the end of the world, is fought also in our daily spiritual struggle, that is, our own efforts to remove all attachment to evil and to turn our steps towards the path of peace. This is the opportune time to increase our fasting, prayer and offerings (cfr Mt 6, 1-18) within the Heart of God, that is in the Heart of the Church, so they may become effective supernatural means for the conversion of hearts and for bringing authentic peace to the world.
The apostles asked the Lord to teach them to pray (Lk 11,1). When the Holy Father called us to say the rosary every day, he gave us the answer for our times: more than ever today we need to pray and meditate with the Blessed Virgin Mary on the "Mysteries", the great events of our salvation. This meditation will shed a new light on the events of our own life and on the events of the world, helping us to meet the expectations God has in our regard: to make our life together with Jesus and Mary, an offering of love for the salvation of souls and the whole world.
Prayer accompanied by fasting helps free hearts from the Evil One and makes them ready to welcome the Gospel message of truth and charity (cfr Mt 17,21). Fasting in fact is the manifestation that our love for God is total, that we are ready to give up everything, even food to posses the divine Loved One. This is a love which gives such spiritual strength that Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus wrote: "Since I am unable to be a missionary of action, I will be a missionary of love and penance".
United with Christ like branches to the vine, we share in his battle and in his victory. With him, through fasting, prayer and almsgiving, we can open our heart to the suffering of the world and its longing for peace and intercede with God: "Your prayers and your almsgiving have risen in your memory, to God" (Acts 10,4). (Fides Service 26/3/2003 EM lines 27 Words: 405)