About every Catholic knows about the season of lent because they have to participate in it. Lent is a forty day event of prayer and fasting that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday. These forty days are time to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection on Easter. The reason that Catholics fast and give up something is to practice self-control. Another self-discipline action that Catholics take during Lent is not eating meat on Fridays. The reason that Lent is forty days is because it represents the time that Jesus spent in the desert avoiding Satan’s temptation.
To be involved in Lent most Catholics sacrifice something that they are “addicted” to. Some examples would be giving up soda, candy, juice, etc. But what you give up has to be a sacrifice to you. Doing this helps you get closer to Jesus and teaches you how to not give into temptation. Another thing that Catholics do is give up meat every Friday. While most people think that can be easy because it’s just one day out of the week. It can be very hard and tempting to not eat meat on Friday. Practicing self-control encourages people to connect with God.
A thing that most people do when they participate in Lent is they ask other people who are also participating what they gave up. Abbe Stoneham, a student at Hughson High said that she gave up snacking after dinner. She added, “I didn’t realize until now how difficult it is to do this task.” Personally I can agree with this because even when you don’t think something is that hard when you give it up it becomes a temptation when you see it. Lent is the time where you focus on all of that temptation, self-control and building your relationship with God.
