On Ash Wednesday, many Christians trade their beads and Mardi Gras bellies for religious sacrificing and fasting in honor of  the season of Lent. “The purpose [of Lent] is for spiritual renewal,” said Rev. Matt Lorrain, parochial vicar of Christ the King Parish and Catholic Center. “It’s the preparation for Easter, but it also serves as an annual retreat to allow Catholics to rededicate themselves to the practice of their faith.”Lorrain said he’s sacrificed television and fast food for Lent during the last 20 years.”By not having fast food, I have to plan meals better, so it makes me slow down,” he said. “It’s easy to watch too much TV to where you don’t have much time to read. It does become a sacrifice whenever March Madness and LSU baseball are on TV.”People giving up food or beverages are common sacrifices, Lorrain said. He said he saw many students give up Facebook last year.This year, Joshua Nezianya, international studies sophomore, is giving up MySpace. He said he is Episcopalian, but he practices Lent because he likes the challenge.Lorrain said some people also add activities to their schedules during Lent, such as volunteering or attending daily mass. Rev. Than Vu, Christ the King pastor, said he’s depriving himself of things he enjoys and giving the money he saves to the poor.Fasting is another big part of Lent.Lorrain said Catholics are required to fast by skipping one meal on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. He said some people fast the entire day.”Fridays are days of abstinence, and Catholics are required to abstain from eating meat,” he said. “Catholics are encouraged to expand fasting to other times of the year.”Many people abstain from meat with seafood, Lorrain said.Shantell Pearl, manager at Mike Anderson’s Seafood Restaurant on West Lee Drive, said the restaurant sees an increase in business throughout Lent, especially during lunchtime.Fasting goes back to Christianity’s Jewish roots, Lorrain said.Jews don’t celebrate Lent, but they do make sacrifices during this time, said Moshe Cohen, Hillel at LSU director and mathematics graduate student, in an e-mail to The Daily Reveille.”The stoic nature of the holiday is similar in nature to Omer — the 50 days from the first night of Passover to Shavout — in the Jewish lunar calendar,” Cohen said. “During this time, people act and dress solemnly, and parties are not usually held.”Vu said about 55 percent of University students identify themselves as Catholic. But Vu said there is no accurate way to measure the number of Catholics because students don’t have to declare a religion.Lent is not only for Catholics, and many other Christians participate.”It’s primarily a Catholic observance,” Vu said. “Although churches that are closer to the Catholic church in theology and literature have it.”Vu said he’s heard of Orthodox Christians, Episcopalians and Methodists participating in Lent.Jay High, Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship adviser and Residential Life communications manager, said he is Protestant but still practices Lent and plans on giving up lunch to pray. High said Chi Alpha does not have a formalized Lent event, but some members practice and discuss it in group meetings.Vu rubbed ashes on the foreheads of the congregation at Christ the King at mass on Ash Wednesday.The ashes are made by burning the palm leaves blessed on Palm Sunday last year, Lorrain said. “The ashes represent a spirit of repentance,” he said. “They remind you of your mortality. You humble yourself before God, be sorry for your sins and recommit yourself to doing better and being more faithful to the Gospel.”Lent is about letting go of unhealthy practices that may have crept into your life, he said.
 
 
 
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