On Wednesday, February 18, Academy celebrated Ash Wednesday, the start of the Lenten season. During Lent, Catholics pray, fast, and give alms as a way of preparing for Easter Sunday.
Lent is a time to sacrifice something that is important to you or to challenge yourself. We practice discipline during Lent to mirror Jesus’s fasting in the desert, and to prepare for Easter by deepening our focus on God and turn away from distractions. It lasts for 40 days, allowing Catholics to challenge themselves for this whole time leading up to Easter.
The three main pillars are prayer, fast, and almsgiving. Together, these help grow a stronger relationship with God. Through prayer, this deepens one’s connection to God through reflection and scripture. Fasting helps create more of a desire for God by abstaining from food or luxuries. Almsgiving are acts of charity which reflect God’s love and mercy for all. The purpose of all of this is to be more directed toward God and less on possessions that are insignificant.
“I’m giving up listening to music in the shower because it’s something I enjoy, and I wanted to do something difficult this Lent,” said sophomore Emma Brown.
Self discipline is key during this Catholic season because it strengthens our soul and helps us break attachments with earthly and trivial desires. This helps us focus on what’s most important in life, which is growing our relationship with God. In society today, the desire to grow closer to God and the practice of discipline is something that is not preached enough, which is why Lent is so important for Catholics.
“I want to add something this Lent. Instead of spending five minutes scrolling on my phone, I want to spend five minutes praying. I want to spend more time in prayer this Lent,” said Mia DeLuca (‘28).
Here at Academy, it is encouraged to focus deeply on our Lenten journey and stick to our Lenten promise. This is important in the Catholic faith because it’s beneficial to have people in life who act as guides in the faith, especially during a time of discipline like Lent.
