When Lent rolls around on Ash Wednesday, some students brush off their Bibles, say no to Cane’s and throw out the candy.
Many Lenten promises on campus focus on cutting out unhealthy food like sweets and soft drinks, and students taking part in Lenten penances come from many denominations, not just Catholicism.
“Jesus in the desert detached himself from the comforts of food and people. He was relying more and more on God,” said Father Matthew McCaughey, the parochial vicar at Christ the King Catholic Church. “Fasting has always been a practice of the church. Lent is the time when we’re especially aware of it… As we give up these things, we need to rely on what really matters, and that is the people around us and God.”
For kinesiology freshman Alex Mayer, candy had become a problem.
“I hide eating sweets from my boyfriend. If I’m hiding my eating habits from someone that’s important, that’s a problem,” Mayer said. “I’m not Catholic, but I’m just doing this for fun. My boyfriend is Catholic.”
Kyle Bramley, a biological engineering freshman, said sweets were common in his life, so giving it up is “actually a sacrifice.”
“It’s been hard,” said Bramley. “There’s a lot of temptation around campus. There’s always sweet treats in the Union.”
Mass communication freshman Nicole Thonn’s problem isn’t sweets or soft drinks – it’s television.
“I gave up Netflix,” Thonn said. “I watch so many shows. I stay up until four in the morning watching episodes and episodes on Netflix. It’s been super hard [giving it up].”
Brad Cooney, a sports administration senior, gave up sweets and soft drinks, and will attend daily mass and confession at least once a week.
“For every one thing I give up, I try to do one thing,” Cooney said. “So far, I’m sticking to it.”
Chemical engineering senior Dalton Choiniere, who also gave up soft drinks, said he’s trying to eat healthier and pray more often.
“I’m giving up soft drinks because they’re unhealthy and I need to,” Choiniere said. “The main point of a Lenten promise is to give up worldly things to get close to God.”
Some are focusing more on prayer.
“I’ve given up the usual things before – meat, chocolate, Coke … [but] I’m trying to pray more this year,” said Kate Young, a human resources leadership development senior and a Lutheran.
Blane Palazzo, mass communication freshman, is praying more and attending mass more regularly.
“Of course I go on Sundays, but also Tuesdays for benediction and novena and Fridays for the Way of the Cross,” Palazzo said. “People are going to think I’m becoming a priest!”
“I gave up Netflix. I watch so many shows. I stay up until four in the morning watching episodes and episodes.”
