Lent practices differ between campus sects
Liz Essley
Issue date: 3/11/10 Section: Focus
Hillsdale College worshipers are preparing their hearts for the celebration of Christ's resurrection. It is Lent - a time of focusing on what's most important, anticipating Christ's work and reexamining lives. Christians on campus observe Lent through many different practices and perspectives.
Senior Monica Way, a Roman Catholic, is observing Lent by not consuming alcohol or desserts, as well as keeping the traditional Catholic fast - only eating one large meal and two snacks, Mondays through Saturdays.
This year, she said, she's focusing on trying to satisfy her spiritual needs with prayer and Scripture rather than physical remedies.
"Lent should be a time of replacing things you give up with positive things," she said.
As a convert from Protestantism to Catholicism, Way said she has also embraced the penitential side of Lent. She said Lent involves contrition and increasing awareness of one's sin.
"It has become more and more meaningful to me as I go deeper in the Catholic faith," she said.
Junior Ashley Baumann, a Protestant who attends College Baptist Church, gave up wheat for Lent. She's sticking to dairy products and salad in Saga, she said. In past years she's given up chocolate, recreational reading and dairy.
Baumann said Lent reminds Christians of the cross and our own sin. Even though her church doesn't teach the keeping of Lent, she said she thinks it brings forward the meaning of Christ's sacrifice.
"I don't think it has to be a denominational thing or that only Catholics should celebrate it," she said.
Hannah Mead '09 agreed Lent isn't just for Catholics. A Catholic herself, she said Lent gives her a defined period of time to focus on what she should do with her faith. During Lent she goes to Mass every day at 6:45 a.m.
Catholics and Protestants aren't the only ones who observe Lent.
Explaining his Lenten fasting, Assistant Professor of English Justin Jackson, an Orthodox Christian, pulled down a calendar from his wall. The days were marked with Scripture passages, saints and fasting reminders - "oil and wine [permitted]," for example.
Senior Monica Way, a Roman Catholic, is observing Lent by not consuming alcohol or desserts, as well as keeping the traditional Catholic fast - only eating one large meal and two snacks, Mondays through Saturdays.
This year, she said, she's focusing on trying to satisfy her spiritual needs with prayer and Scripture rather than physical remedies.
"Lent should be a time of replacing things you give up with positive things," she said.
As a convert from Protestantism to Catholicism, Way said she has also embraced the penitential side of Lent. She said Lent involves contrition and increasing awareness of one's sin.
"It has become more and more meaningful to me as I go deeper in the Catholic faith," she said.
Junior Ashley Baumann, a Protestant who attends College Baptist Church, gave up wheat for Lent. She's sticking to dairy products and salad in Saga, she said. In past years she's given up chocolate, recreational reading and dairy.
Baumann said Lent reminds Christians of the cross and our own sin. Even though her church doesn't teach the keeping of Lent, she said she thinks it brings forward the meaning of Christ's sacrifice.
"I don't think it has to be a denominational thing or that only Catholics should celebrate it," she said.
Hannah Mead '09 agreed Lent isn't just for Catholics. A Catholic herself, she said Lent gives her a defined period of time to focus on what she should do with her faith. During Lent she goes to Mass every day at 6:45 a.m.
Catholics and Protestants aren't the only ones who observe Lent.
Explaining his Lenten fasting, Assistant Professor of English Justin Jackson, an Orthodox Christian, pulled down a calendar from his wall. The days were marked with Scripture passages, saints and fasting reminders - "oil and wine [permitted]," for example.
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