by Victoria Krogh

On Feb. 18, I am asked the same common question as many Catholics: “What’s that on your forehead?”

The answer? “Ashes.”

More often than not, I am offered a cookie during journalism class and I respond with the same morbid answer: “No, thanks though.”

My classmates want answers: “What?! Why???”

I simply respond with one word every time:“Lent.”

That liturgical term is not necessarily familiar to most people’s ears here at AHS. Many of us don’t understand Lent, let alone the point of ashes or giving up something for 40 days. This is my Catholic view of Lent, and I really hope I absolve your confusion.

What is Lent?

Lent is a 40-day period of repentance, forgiveness, humility, and rebirth in the soul and mind to become more devout to our belief in God. Overall, this season prepares us for the holy grail of all holidays (and Holy Days!): Easter.

Want to know more about Catholics?

 Is Catholicism the only religion that practices Lent?

Not at all! No outstanding rule states this holy season is only for Catholics. But, unlike other churches, we do celebrate Ash Wednesday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. All denominations of Christianity are solely based on the death and miraculous rising of Jesus Christ from the dead. We all celebrate Easter, and Lent just prepares anyone who participates for the holiday.

Lent for non-catholics

Why the ashes?

Ashes are a representation of our humility and penance, which plays an extreme role in Lent. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. According to Mark Hart, Executive Vice President of Content and Identity at Lifeteen, “By receiving ashes and keeping them on, we publicly proclaim our intent to die to our worldly desires and live even more in Christ’s image, which we focus on during the season of ‘rebirth’ that is Lent.”

Mark Hart explains ashes on the forehead

 How long is Lent?

It depends on the day. Last week, it felt like I had just begun a 500-day span of giving up sweets with the constant temptations I was facing. The true length is based off of the 40 days and 40 nights Jesus spent in the desert while praying, fasting, and worshipping God. Lent is 40 days of striving to be like Jesus.

 Why do you give up something for Lent?

Giving up something during Lent is just a basic sacrifice for God. Jesus gave up his life for us upon the cross. As Christians, the least we can do for Him in return is to make sacrifices to live in the holy way He taught us. On Easter Sunday, our Lenten fast is then set free because we celebrate Christ rising from the dead!

What is generally given up for Lent?

People generally offer up sweets, pop, an extra meal, or even video games, but it all depends on the person. If a person is truly into preparing for Easter, they will give up something challenging. For example: one person may give up pop even though they barely drank it in the first place. For someone else, it might be an extreme struggle to do without that extra caffeine which is part of their routine.

102 things to give up for Lent

Why do you give up meat on Fridays during Lent?

For centuries, Catholics did not eat the meat of warm-blooded animals on Fridays as a means of marking Friday, the day Jesus was sacrificed on the cross. It the 1960s, Pope Paul VI loosened the rules against meat on Fridays, but Catholics still adhere to this rule during Lent.

History for Fish on Fridays