Spring 2009 - Issue 5

The Silversword: Home > Chaminade Life > Lent: Not a Snickering Matter or No Joy in Almond Joy

Lent: Not a Snickering Matter or No Joy in Almond Joy

Ashlee Duenas, Editor

Late February is the beginning of a special time on campus. The birds are singing, the bugs are bugging, and the people are … fasting?

Yes, it’s time once again for the Catholic community to don their ashes and begin their 44-day diets. People all around the world give up everything from smoking cigarettes to eating meat, from cursing to gossiping.

However, people all around the world are also breaking their Lenten promises. Most people just forget, or they give up things that are habitual to them. Yet, some people just do not have the will power to go 44 days without a candy bar or a cigarette.

Before we talk about broken promises, for those of you in our community who are not familiar with Lent, here are the basics:
Lent is the 44-day period of fasting beginning on Ash Wednesday, leading up to Easter Sunday, Jesus’ resurrection.
It is a season of calling to mind Jesus’ 40-day fast in the wilderness before he was put to death.
All Western Catholics aged 18 to 59 are called to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, eating only one meal on these days.
All Western Catholics 14 years and older are called to abstain from meat on all Fridays throughout Lent.
During this time of fasting, people are called to give up something they enjoy or partake in on a regular basis, such as soda, candy, and meat. People also give up less tangible things such as cussing or gossiping. During this time, Christians are called to fill the time they would spend doing the things they give up, with time dedicated to helping the community, church, or spirit.

Despite the spiritual pressure to abide by Catholicism’s rules, many people break their promises anyway.

Sophomore Gregory Monk said, “Lenten promises are always broken. Some people even allow themselves three freebies so they don’t feel bad when they break their goals.”

Junior Lailanie Thom said, “ I give up cussing almost every year. I also fail almost every year. “ This year she is doing something different: “I’m going to be kinder to people and I’m going to try to have more patience.”

But why do people break or modify their Lenten goals?

“They break their goals for so many reasons,” said Thom. “Usually it’s because the things they give up are so natural to them, like grabbing a soda out of the fridge.”

Whatever the reason, people often break these promises, and many feel no remorse for doing so. It is as if promises truly are made to be broken. However, broken promises also have consequences.

“If you promise your dad that you are going to quit smoking, then he catches you in the act, don’t you feel bad? I think many people think of Lenten goals as silly nothings, not as a promise between you and the Father,” said sophomore Jaelyssa Tomada.