It starts with a cross of ashes on the forehead and ends on Resurrection Day. Lent is not only giving up something but more-so deepening faith.
Junior Anne Chrisman was not spotted in a coffee shop this Lent.
“I am giving up coffee for Lent. So far, I have stuck to it. I do find it a little difficult, but that’s the whole point of making a sacrifice for Lent. I go to church for Ash Wednesday, abstain from meat on Fridays and fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. I think Lent is a very good time to challenge yourself and deepen your faith by not only making sacrifices for yourself but also for others. Most people only think of the fasting ‘giving things up’ part of Lent, but it’s more than that: fasting, almsgiving, and prayer,” Chrisman said.
Junior Kendall Adams intended to fully commit to her Lenten promises.
“I’m Christian so for Lent I’m giving up a few things. I decided to give up meat completely because I am an environmentalist and against factory farming but just have never committed fully. Lent seemed like a good opportunity to abstain from meat completely, and I will continue to be pescatarian after the end of Lent as well. Lent is 40 days of fasting and prayer symbolic of Jesus’ 40 days in the desert. I view it as a time of reflection. Good examples of Lent promises are anything you give up that you feel takes you away from God. For example, last year I gave up social media because I felt it was taking up too much of my time,” Adams said.
Sophomore Lillian Hufford enjoyed the Lenten season.
“This year, I’m giving up social media, chocolate, chips, and soda. I’m also trying to pray two rosaries a week. Giving up some of my favorite, unhealthy things and trying to pray more help me to focus more on my relationship with God, to sacrifice for my faith, and to become a healthier person overall. I’ve been pretty successful with my social media goals, but I’ve slipped up with my food and praying goals. I forgot I was giving up chocolate once during the first week, but I’ve been good since then. I’ve been struggling to keep up with praying like I wanted to. It’s hard for me to make the time, but last week I was able to accomplish it. After the first few days, social media hasn’t been too tempting to come back to. Praying has been hard to keep to, but when I do it, I feel really great,” Hufford said.
Alongside her, Hufford’s family participated in Lent.
“My family is Catholic, so we all agree to give up things; My dad gave up video games, my mom gave up Starbucks, and my sister gave up social media. Each Friday we abstain from meat and only eat two small meals. Another thing we do during Lent is go to confession every week. Lent is about becoming closer to God before Easter, and being freed of our sins regularly helps us do that. The Lenten season is really difficult, but I always find myself closer to God by the end of it. Getting to sacrifice for my faith is a really great experience every year. It also makes Easter a lot more fun and special,” Hufford said.
Mr. Rich Perry prayed for the staff as part of the season.
“I always send an email out to the teachers in the building and ask them if there’s anything I can pray for for them. I gave up snacking after school. I have the tendency to snack after school, and I’m going to donate the money that I would spend. I’ve kept up with my Lenten promise well, I’ve had no problems staying with it. I think what you give up should be something that is really a sacrifice to you. Some people just give up things that’ll be easy to give up, but I think it should be something more of a challenge. Giving up Diet Coke would be a huge sacrifice for me. It’s not always giving something up but also doing something different or more. Like if someone who only really prayed on Sunday could set times during the week or someone who’s never ready the bible could make time to read a little each day,” Mr. Perry said.
