Forty days of Lent have more to offer than ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’, says priest

The 40 days of Lent have more to offer than Fifty Shades of Grey, a priest has told his parishoners.

Fr Kevin McNamara – whose Rathmore, Gneeveguilla, Shrone and Knocknagree parish crosses the Co Cork-Co Kerry border – said Lent was a joyful season, “not negative”, and the 40 days should be grasped as an opportunity to renew our lives.

He has put up large signs outside his four churches appealing to people: “Whatever about the 50 shades – remember the 40 days!”

Fr McNamara has not seen the controversial film but says he used the reference to catch attention.

“I am a great believer in the public pulpit,” he said. “I want to remind people that regardless of what’s going on in life, just remember the 40 days!”

The 40 days was not about giving up something, but about adding something, he said, admitting thatin the past in the past he too had been guilty of looking at Lent negatively.

However Lent is a time to look at life, to ask where we are going and how we are behaving, he said.