Around the world, millions of people are fasting and reflecting on their spiritual lives during the spiritual period known as Lent. For about 40 days before Easter, worshippers across Christianity prepare themselves to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus by meditating on the events leading up to Easter Sunday. Despite their different sects and customs, many students at WJ who observe Lent are united through this sacred period.
For Catholics, Lent begins with Ash Wednesday.
“You get ashes on your forehead in the shape of a cross,” junior Iza Giesbrecht said. “[Then] you give something up for 40 days that’s holding you back from your relationship with God.”
Catholics are expected to fast on Ash Wednesday and abstain from eating meat each Friday during Lent. Many also choose to give up something personal, such as social media or sleeping in, rather than food. This allows them to foster discipline and reflect on Jesus’ life leading up to the cross. This Lent, junior Iza Giesbrecht decided to give up laziness to align herself with God.
“When I was younger, I wasn’t as educated as I am now,” Giesbrecht said. “I didn’t give anything up and I just went along with whatever my parents were doing. Now I’m more educated.”
However, much of the discourse surrounding Lent is that the character-building and meditation practiced throughout those 40 days should carry over into the rest of the year. For many Christians like Giesbrecht, having a community of believers helps her to do that.
“Now I go to church more often…I attend a youth group as well,” Giesbrecht said. “I think that having a group of other people who are also sharing the same religion is really good so you can talk to them about your problems so that they can pray for you.”
The early Christian church had many believers in Ethiopia, whose distance and isolation led them to foster their own customs. Ethiopian Orthodox followers are expected to maintain a vegan diet and fast for the first half of every day during Lent. Sophomore Marken Teklemikael, one of thousands of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians in America, has been fasting for Lent since he was 12 years old.
“The way we pray is different during Lent,” Teklemikael said. “It’s more refreshing and more peaceful and, like the traditions, it connects you more to your faith and back home.”
Towards the end of Lent, most Christians, including Catholics, Orthodox and certain Protestant denominations, celebrate Holy Week. The tradition highlights major events leading up to Christ’s crucifixion, which are commemorated by special services held by churches. During Holy Week, called Himamat by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, church members see each other more often for these services, helping to strengthen bonds within the community.
“My favorite day [during Lent] is on Sigdet where [Jesus] washed [the disciples’] legs. That’s the best part ‘cause you get your feet washed too and it’s spring and everyone’s outside,” Teklemikael said
In 1054, Christianity split into the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. The split, known as ‘The Great Schism,’ was driven by ideological disagreements. Over time, cultural differences have changed the rules and duration of Lent for Eastern Orthodox believers. For example, the Eastern Orthodox, like the Ethiopian Orthodox, maintain a vegan diet during Lent.
“Your meals are very basic and they’re just tailored for survival,” senior Filip Garrido said. “They’re not really tailored for pleasure so you can focus more on repentance.”
Repentance can be described as turning away from sin and toward Christ. Garrido, along with other Eastern believers, attends additional services during the week, where members of his church spend more time repenting and comparing their character to God’s.
“When I just converted, I kind of respected it…Now I definitely respect it more because I understand it more. It’s a good reset,” Garrido said. “I guess we just take this moment to see how good God is…and try to change for the next year.”
Lent is widely practiced among the Catholic and Orthodox branches of Christianity. However, within the third branch, Protestantism, the official Holy Month is less common. Corruption was persistent in the Catholic Church during the Medieval period (14th to 16th century). Thus, by the beginning of the 16th century, different denominations began breaking away in favor of independent worship. Many European immigrants who moved to America belonged to these denominations, explaining why, according to the Pew Research Center, 46.5% of Americans today identify as Protestant.
Protestant Lent is generally less strict. There is no tradition of fasting or mandated dieting. Instead, Protestants choose to give up something important to them. Voluntary sacrifices like these make Lent a personal time of meditation and spiritual reflection. Some Protestants, like senior Abigail Ramos, a Lutheran, opt for lifestyle changes during Lent, such as eating healthier.
Regardless of what they’re giving up for Lent, WJ’s Christian body is on a spiritual journey of sacrifice and renewal.
