Ash Wednesday: What these forty days truly mean

As Easter approaches, our school reflects on Lent and what it means to us as Catholics. However, some students may still be confused about the meaning behind the Lenten season. 

Lent is a time for all Catholics to grow closer to God and in their faith by mimicking the self-sacrifice Jesus displayed in the desert. Jesus went 40 days without food or water and refused the devil’s temptation in order to remain humble. We try to copy this display as Catholics to remind us of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross before he is risen. But why?

Well, as we heard in Fr. David Bline’s homily on Ash Wednesday, Lent is a time to realize that we cannot go through life without God. It is a time to be honest about our faults and reflect on our imperfections. We atone in order to improve ourselves where we can, and humble ourselves when we, ultimately, make mistakes.

From here, Bline went on to say that even when Satan tries to make us feel like we have to go through everything alone, just as he isolated Adam and Eve in the garden, God is there to remind us that we are loved and supported every step of the way. When we falter, God’s love prevails and nothing will ever change that.

Lent can be a time to work on yourself to change for the better. Senior Sarah Brennan says, “I chose to give up pop for lent because it’s always been something I’ve wanted to try and I feel like this gives me the perfect opportunity to try”

You can also use Lent as a time to add something special into your everyday routine that impacts your relationships with others. Senior Kimora Greenwood comments that her goal for Lent is to say one nice thing a day to someone she loves. While this may seem like an easy task, kind acts, with a special intent behind them, often makes these comments more impactful. 

So whether you practice Catholicism or not, try to use these next few weeks as a way to implement better daily habits. You do not have to subscribe to any religion in order to better yourself.