Hey Royals! As all of us on campus know, we are in the season of Lent in the Catholic Church. For those who may not know much about Lent, it is the forty-day season before Easter in which all Catholics around the world participate in fasting, prayer, and sacrifices to grow closer to Jesus Christ and to prepare for the return of our Savior. Many Catholics mark the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday with the sign of the cross in ashes on their foreheads. People immediately start to make promises to God and sacrificing things in His name.
To new Catholics, the idea may seem a little intimidating and jarring. This assumption often discourages many from fully participating in this beautiful time of spiritual growth. Here are some simple ideas that you can do during Lent to deepen your relationship with God.
Rosary provides plenty of opportunities to strengthen our faith on campus. For one, you can use part of lunchtime on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to go to Mass and receive the Eucharist. Another great thing you can do is talk to your religion teacher about your Lenten promises. Many religion teachers would be pleased to hear about your journey. One last thing you could do on campus is discuss your faith life with those who share your views. Connecting with your friends on a spiritual level is one of the best things at Rosary because you do not just grow in the sisterhood of Rosary, but bond together as daughters of Christ.
There are also things you can do on your own in the comfort of your own home. One traditional thing many Catholics do is give up things that drive themselves away from God. Some great things to give up during Lent are judgment, gossip, and hatred. These sins will only drive you away from God; without these things, you can form into the best version of yourself.
Another Lenten sacrifice could be giving up your phone for a few hours in the evening. This is a great way to not only spend more time with God, but also those around you, such as family or friends. Ariel Lopez ’28 is making a few sacrifices this Lent, including screen time: “I gave up Block Blast, unhealthy food, and am just drinking water. I gave up Block Blast because I felt like it would draw me closer to God. So instead of being on my phone, I am praying more and overall spending more time with Him. So far, I have been doing good and feeling better about myself and my relationship with God.”
You can also cut back on spending and donate that money to the less fortunate! Sophomore Isabella Smith talks about what she gave up for Lent. She states, “I gave up Wingstop for Lent. I gave it up because I would spend a lot of money on it weekly. Instead of eating Wingstop, I decided to eat healthy to better myself and give back to others rather than spending it on delicious wings.”
While giving up stuff is a very common tradition during Lent, you can also make promises that will also grow you closer to the Lord. Making a simple effort to pray every morning and every night is a wonderful way to start and end your day as well as a wonderful way to connect with our Father. One of the best forms of prayer, in my opinion, is worship music. Instead of listening to your normal playlist, maybe swap out a few songs for good worship music. Nothing gets you more pumped than singing about God to a good tune!
As you can see, there are many great chances to take advantage of during Lent to better yourself, your spiritual state, and your relationship with God. We encourage all Royals to participate wholeheartedly in Lent and truly make a time to prepare for the resurrection of our Savior. Let us know in the comments if any of these ideas worked for you!
