In his pastoral letter to the Catholic Church, the Archbishop said repentance, self-denial, almsgiving and prayer were “part of the recipe” for Lent.

He said the season helped believers prepare to celebrate afresh “the great events of our faith” – the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ.

He asked Christians to think about how they could get involved in the ceremonies of Holy Week and “learn again all that separates us from Christ”.

The Archbishop stressed the importance of giving each Friday in Lent particular recognition, the day upon which the Church traditionally refrains from eating meat.

“I ask you to ensure that you mark each Friday in Lent with an act of self-denial,” he said.

“Let us take up again the practice of abstaining from meat, or another favourite part of our diet, on the Fridays of Lent.”

Prayer too is crucial, the Archbishop said, as he encouraged Christians to follow the Stations of the Cross in their church in the coming weeks.

“By meditating together on the suffering and death of the Lord, undergone for our sake, we come closer to him and renew our love for him.”

He admitted that many Christians could find it difficult to commit to a period of prayer and reflection but encouraged them to “try it and see”.

“I am fully aware of the pressure on time which we all feel as I make these requests. It is difficult to fit more into a busy routine,” he said.

“Yet Lent itself helps us to address this issue.

“Paradoxically, if we can slow down during these weeks of Lent, making space for things which matter very much indeed, then we will find a greater peace and poise in our lives.

“Creating moments and times of space for prayer and reflection gives us new vitality and focus with which to return to our routine obligations.”

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. Last week, the Catholic Church called upon its followers to wear their ashes with confidence as a witness to their faith.

Bishop Kieran Conry, Chair of the Department for Evangelisation and Catechesis, said the ashes, made in the sign of the cross on the forehead, were “an outward sign of our inward sorrow for our sins and of our commitment to Jesus as our Lord and Saviour”.