Lent is a Holy period of fasting and abstinence for 40 days straight. Lent is a Christian holiday, celebrated mainly by Catholic and Orthodox Christians. Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday. During this time, Christians are called to fast and abstain from indulging in daily pleasures. Some examples of pleasures include phone scrolling, fast food, sugar, etc.
Gennivy Bonilla (10) says sacrificing her phone time on social media is a great way to deny the flesh and grow in spirit. “For Lent this year, I gave up using social media. I feel like resisting my phone and going straight to God will help me to build that relationship with him to always know, even after Lent, that he is always there, and he is there for me,” Bonilla said.
The point of abstinence during Lent is to give up something that may be getting in between a relationship and faith. This is a time to please and grow within the spirit.
“I am participating in Lent this year, I’m Catholic and have always done Lent with my family growing up. This year, I gave up fast food and swearing. I gave that up because I feel like it is something that I always want. So, I felt like it would be a good choice. Swearing is not any better, but it is something I do in my daily life, and I want to stop because I know it isn’t good for me,” April Ramirez (9) said.
Ramirez mentioned swearing, and it’s a good thing to give up during Lent, and hopefully that pause can help students get out of the habit of swearing. There’s a constant stream of swearing and foul language all throughout Granger’s halls, and it doesn’t help anyone who is trying to change — the environment around someone makes a difference. To be able to give up something that ingrained and unexamined is a good way of showing self-awareness and showing a desire to repent and improve.
“This year, I gave up my jewelry for Lent. While I love my jewelry, I think I focus on it too much, and it is one of many things that I may be putting over my relationship with God because it is a luxury that I am blessed to have. He made me a certain way, and I would like to humble myself and only focus on the Lord,” Nathan Rosales (10) said.
Rosales says he focuses on jewelry too much and may even be putting his desires over his need for God.
As much as Lent includes sacrificing things through abstinence, it is also about fasting. Fasting during Lent may sound harsh, but it isn’t. Fasting during Lent applies to Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays during Lent. It is a no-meat fast for the whole day, and on those days, observers are to only eat one full meal, and two smaller meals. Meat includes anything like beef, pork, chicken, turkey, etc.
