According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Lent is a 40-day season of prayer, starting on Ash Wednesday and ending on the dawn of Holy Thursday. In this period, many Christians practice giving up something or adding something to their daily routine to honor and remember the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert, fasting, praying and resisting temptations to stray from his faith.
Similar to many high schoolers across the world, some Liberty students see Lent as an important aspect in their lives. Some students shared that they had been recognizing Lent as a holiday since they were children in Religious Education classes, while some students had just recently learned about it.
“When I was younger, we always talked about Lent and what it means and what we are celebrating during Religious Ed. We were encouraged to give something up or write down things that we could practice during Lent,” said Taylor Vittetoe (she/her), 11.
Lent is meant to help bring followers closer to Jesus, recognize what he went through during this time and help enhance their faith in him.
“I think it helps me grow closer to him [Jesus], just because I think you’re thinking about it more, especially when you take something away or add something in, because every time you maybe don’t want to do it, you think of him. I think that’s the importance of it because you grow closer to him and grow your faith,” said Vittetoe.
As different seasons come around, Christians have many things to look forward to and remember.
Lent falls between two major holidays celebrating Jesus: Christmas, celebrating his birth, and Easter, celebrating his resurrection. Lent is a great time for a reflection in between.
“It’s definitely a good reset because it is just such a different holiday. Because for Christmas, you’re always preparing for something exciting to happen. Easter is exciting too because he [Jesus] rises from the dead, but it is also a period of mourning and sadness,” said Vittetoe.
Vittetoe also shared that she tries to give up something different every year. This year, she has given up sugar and different social media platforms. She expressed that it is challenging during spring break and over long periods.
Although following through with Lenten sacrifices may be difficult, it is important to remember that Lent is about reflection and growth rather than reflection.