Archbishop Paul Cremona and Bishop Mario Grech in a joint pastoral letter for lent have urged the faithful to see in the Lord and His Church a teacher who offers guidance.

"We have become so unable to understand and evaluate what is happening around us, we have become so confused, that some are becoming disheartened of being able to pass on to society, and particularly to young people, what is valid and certain, criteria of behaviour and meaningful values which offer peace of mind," the bishops said.

"God leads us to become whole men, alien to sin and tied to his will. First and foremost, He speaks to the heart. He finds us exactly where we feel the void, where we are hurt, where we are completely doubtful. He touches us to cure precisely where we are confused, where we are most weak when faced by vices like drugs, drink and games, that slowly strip us of every dignity.

"We, the bishops, believe that here lies the key for the direction of our society: that we recognize God as the first educator and that we do not fear to enter into this educational relationship that He wishes to build with us, as individuals and as a society."

The bishops also refer to the forthcoming Papal visit.

"Since our Lord, Jesus Christ, left Peter to confirm the disciples in the faith, we see in the Pope, Vicar of Christ and Peter's successor, the one who confirms us in the educational process of faith that will lead us to state as Peter did: ‘Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life' (Jn.6,68)."

The full text can be seen by clicking on the pdf below.