Lenten season is upon us, but what is it? 

Lent is a 40 day season of almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. During this time we prepare to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection on Easter. 

Almsgiving is something we hear at our Catholic school often, yet many don’t know the full meaning behind the word. To understand the act of almsgiving, I went to CMT member Ryley Roudabush, who said, “In my perspective almsgiving is giving important supplies like food and money to those in need.” 

That is exactly what Holy Angels is doing during the Lenten season. The Item Drive took place for students to practice almsgiving and give healthcare products to those in need. 

For prayer, students are given a daily Lenten prayer which can be found in the Daily Bulletin. CMT wrote the prayers for each day of the week for the rest of the student body to use when wanted. 

For fasting, many people give up something for Lent. Even if you are not Catholic, I would greatly recommend this. Giving up something unhealthy, toxic, or bad for you can ultimately be better for you. For those who are Catholic, it can help your relationship with God grow stronger. 

Fasting also includes giving up meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays of Lent. The rules state: Everyone from the age of 14 and up must abstain from consuming meat. However, I discovered this is exempt for those with a medical reasons. 

All of that is great, but why do we do it? To answer this question, I went to CMT and Bible 2 teacher, Mr. Schumacher, “People are sinners and they need to be reminded of that,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for self-reflection, self-examination, and finding ways to improve yourself and grow closer to God. Sin damages our relationship with God. Lent is an opportunity to help us fix that.” 

Lent is a time for people to regroup and remind themselves of what truly matters. Try to open up your mind this Lenten season. Try a couple of new prayers before bed, maybe give up buying coffee during lunch and donate that money to a charity of your choice, strive to get extra service hours this trimester, or pick up an extra chore around the house. I think little things like this help build a better relationship with God and will help you improve your overall well-being. 

With Easter just around the corner, many students are looking forward to our 5-day break. However, be sure to keep the Lenten Season and its purpose in mind!