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SALT LAKE CITY — The season of Lent is fast approaching, and more than those within the Catholic faith are marking the observance.
Lent is a 40-day period of fasting, repentance and prayer that begins on Ash Wednesday (which falls on Feb. 13 this year) and ends with Holy Saturday, just before Easter. It has been observed for centuries and serves as a period of introspection and spiritual renewal, even for some who do not typically commemorate the religious holiday.
“Giving up something for Lent sometimes evokes head-scratching in non-Catholics, but what might seem like just another Catholic eccentricity can actually be a practice with deep spiritual significance,” writes catechetical minister Neela Kale for Broken Halo. “We acknowledge the ways we have turned away from God in our lives and we focus on turning our hearts and minds back toward God. These observances help us turn away from whatever has distracted or derailed us.”
Elizabeth Tenety notes in the Washington Post that the most widely recognized way to observe Lent is to give up a vice “as an attempt to remove barriers to God. Others use Lent as a time to buckle down on long-abandoned New Year's resolutions, giving up favorite foods or swear words.”
As the practice of Lent evolved, it began to take on the added significance of a preparation of new church members for the baptism of Easter Sunday. In the spirit of Christianity as a community of living faith, this period of fasting and preparation was eventually embraced by all Church members.
Additionally, Lent was once referred to as "quadragesima," which is Latin for the 40th day before Easter. The word "Lent" itself is thought to come from a Germanic root, "lenct," which initially meant "spring" and, later, "fast."
Source: sharefaith.com
It’s a concept that appears to resonate with people of many faiths and those with no religious affiliation at all.
Social media is a new avenue for tracking the trend. Stephen Smith of Christianity Today has searched Twitter for the past four years, looking for patterns in Lenten sacrifices. “Each year, the list is a mix of the sincere and the sarcastic, the earnest and the anti-religious,” he writes. “But each year, it results in a fascinating look at American spirituality — especially with the recurrent themes of people tweeting how they plan to give up social networking for the 40 day season of fasting.”
Writers and bloggers are contributing to the conversation, encouraging people to give up something more meaningful than chocolate or caffeine. The Rev. Gregory Seal Livingston, senior pastor of Mission of Faith Baptist Church in Chicago, writes for the Huffington Post that members of his “Chicago faith community and beyond” are uniting to fast from violence.
“For the Lent season we must intentionally walk and talk with the purveyors and victims of violence,” he writes. “We will fast from violence and teach and show love/action across the city. This is nothing new. As a Christian this is what I'm supposed to be doing anyway.”
Sister Mary Ann Walsh of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops encourages Huffington Post readers to “sanctify the net” in an effort to “help social media be worthy of the papal endorsement.” One suggestion she offers is going positive to counter the negative: “The Web is filled with snide and snarky comments, so offer a counter balance. When you see meanness, an untruth or bias, gently correct for the record.” She also admonishes readers to “pray for the nay-sayers and character assassins who hide behind anonymity.”
Other outlets have taken a more secular approach. Forbes suggests giving up dining out, paying full price and wasting time. The Daily Green offers a list of nine things that can be given up for Lent that will help the environment, including plastic bags, bottled water and conventional detergents.
Still others are encouraging giving rather than giving up. Via Twitter, Sarah @ArizonaWildcat told the Washington Post that she gives “a can of food a day for our church's Easter food baskets” for Lent. Beliefnet user marbleartgirl wrote, "So many people have been extremely kind to us and haven't really received a thank you. So (my husband and I) have listed those who have impacted our lives in a Christ-like way. We are going to contact one person a day, either sending them a letter or a small gift, and tell them how much they have meant to us."
Whether choosing to give or give up, Kale said observing Lent can be a catalyst for growth and have lasting personal effects: “A small positive change can have a big impact that lasts beyond the 40 days of Lent.”
