Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and is a special day in the Christian calendar. It’s mainly celebrated by Catholics and many other Christian groups around the world. On Ash Wednesday people go into church to receive ashes on their forehead from Palm Sunday. The ashes are a reminder that life is short and that we should turn away from our bad habits that may cause sin. The season of Lent allows us to try to live better lives closer to God. Lent lasts for 40 days, not counting Sundays, and serves as a reminder that Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness. It’s a religious time of growth and a loving time for believers.
Father Celsus used an acronym to engage the students during this Lenten mass. The students stayed attentive, repeating each word after Father said it. They were able to apply each part of the acronym to their own lives. And he used one of the students to show us a representation of the acronym. The acronym he used is DIRTY. Telling us when we get our ashes it gets us “dirty”.
D- Death
I- Isolation
R- Repent
T- Trust
Y- Yearn
During Lent, we focus on prayer, fasting, and helping others. During Lent most people give something up that helps you to grow closer to God while others sometimes will choose to do something positive like reading the Bible more or volunteering.For example, freshman, Myla Quezada hopes to grow closer to God through bible studies, “For Lent I’m going to be writing down in a note book at least two pages of the bible a day”. Lent helps people stop and think about their current lives and how their choices are to their relationship with God before Easter. The meaning of Lent is a time of reflection, fasting, spiritual preparation, and preparation.
During Lent, people often give up something to represent their fasting.
This could be a food or drink, such as:
Chocolate
Soda
Chips
Ice cream
Candy
Coffee
Meat
Energy drinks
Alcohol
It could also be an action, such as:
Cursing
Lying
Rolling your eyes
Interrupting people
Being sarcastic
Arguing
Judging others
Hitting
Gossiping
Complaining
Shouting
Using the Lord’s name in vain
In addition, one might give up a bad habit, such as:
Watching TV
Playing video games
Going on Youtube
Scrolling on Tiktok
Eating out
Sleeping in
Shopping
More complex things someone might give up include comparing themselves to others or being lazy with their chores.
What will you be giving up for lent? Or, what will you start incorporating? Comment Below!
