Collegio Online

Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: Campus Life

Media Credit: Brett Armbruster/Collegio The Rev. David Marstall, chaplain of the St. Pius X Newman Center, sprinkles holy water onto ashes in preparation for Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent, in which Catholics and Christians of some other denominations give up something in remembrance of Christ's 40 days and 40 nights wandering in the desert.

Coley Scheibmeir has been a member of the Catholic Church since she was 7 and takes Lent seriously.

"I've tried before in the past to give up some pretty crazy things, but it should definitely be something you can stick with and make it through," said Scheibmeir, senior in general studies. "Giving up something unrealistic just makes you feel guilty when you fault."

Her sacrifice this year is to not skip any classes, which she says is usually difficult for her to do.

"Lent is giving up something or making a change in your daily lifestyle that will help in making you a better person," she said. "It's not quite suffering and dying on a cross, but it's a personal sacrifice."
Lent is a Catholic tradition that begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts 40 days, ending on Easter. The Rev. David Marstall, priest of the Newman Center, describes Lent as a season of preparation, including prayer, fasting and alms-giving to celebrate Easter to its fullest.

Marstall says common fixations that Catholics commit to for Lent include spending more time in prayer, not eating certain foods and volunteering.

"Everyone kind of looks for the part of their life in which they most need to grow," Marstall said.

During Lent, Catholics do not eat meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday or any Fridays in between. Also, on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, Catholics do not eat between meals.
Marstall says he is impressed that this year student participation has increased, with over 200 Catholic students partaking in Lent.

Kelsey McCarty, sophomore in nursing, grew up in a Catholic grade school and high school. This year, McCarty has given up eating between all meals, saying "bad" words, and has committed to working out more and eating healthy.

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