DEAR EDITOR: Lent begins on February 21 this year, and “back in time” the primary purpose of this season was to help us to become truly holy.

At that time, there was no “cool down” on Ash Wednesday, calypsoes were not heard on the radio, abstaining from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent and other pious   practices were considered the norm, in fact we were expected to do penance, good works, almsgiving, an extra Mass or more each week.

Children gave up sweets, adults fasted and gave up hard liquor or eating between meals. Could that have been the reason why Trinidad and Tobago was not overwhelmed by crime?

Now that our country is in a state of despair, should we not work toward a goal of extra prayer, abstinence, fasting, the daily Rosary, A Holy Hour, during Lent? Our dear Lord advises us “Amen, amen I say to you, if you ask the Father anything in my name, he will give it you,” also He said, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask whatever you will, and it shall be done unto you.” Surely it’s worth a try!

Dame June Gonsalves, Maraval