by Todd Pringle
News ReporterIn preparation for Lent, Catholics the world over are preparing to honor the memory of Jesus Christ and renew their faith in God and the Bible.
Lent, a term meaning `springtime,' began as a season of self-betterment through denial -- Catholics would give up a personal vice for the season.
"I will try not to eat meat on Fridays," said freshman pre-pharmacy student Chris Brewster, of the UH Catholic Newman Association, as he prepares for the Catholic season of Lent.
The season does not weigh heavily on his thoughts, Brewster said, but he hopes to participate in "at least one good-works project."
Father Isidore Vicente, campus minister of the UH Catholic group, said, "Typically, one would give up eating candy, junk foods or watching movies as their penance, or as dictated by old traditions, give up eating meat on Wednesday and Friday.
"Now, however, Catholics have shifted their focus outward to provide help to others in need of assistance. Through this, they express their repentance of their sins."
Lent begins today, Ash Wednesday, and lasts the 46 days until Easter. UH Catholic students juggle schoolwork and prepare for their penance, following both traditional Lenten practice and becoming involved with the new celebration by helping criminals, the homeless and victims of abuse.
Like Brewster, sophomore biology major Brad Mallburg said schoolwork does not make one as concerned with celebration of Lent as with grades. However, he said he still believes that service is important during Lent.
"I have not decided if I will give up a vice, but I am preparing for Easter and plan to participate in the activities planned by the Catholic Newman Association," Mallburg said.
As part of serving the community, Vicente said the CNA will counsel, cook and clean for Casa de Juan Diego, a support center for refugees of Central and South America; Tiny Treasures, a center for abused children; and the Harris County Jail. CNA will also tutor children at Our Lady of Guadalupe Elementary School.
Vicente encourages Catholic students to volunteer to participate in the projects at a CNA retreat planned for Friday and Saturday.
The Rev. Paul Gallagher, director and campus minister for CNA, said Lent was first practiced between A.D. 200 and A.D. 300 as a time of instruction in Christianity for converts.
Converts would repent their sins through denial of vices in the tradition of not eating meat, and would pray for 40 days. Their penance would end on Easter Sunday, the day of Christ's alleged resurrection.
The idea of self-denial as penance is patterned after Christ's 40-day retreat into the wilderness prior to his becoming a prophet, Gallagher said.
In modern practice, the celebration's focus changed, after the second Vatican Council meeting in 1964, to a time of service to others with less emphasis on oneself, Gallagher said.
"It is important to be conscious of people on a lower economic scale (than yourself)," he said. "In addition to not eating fish and meat on Wednesdays and Fridays, and helping others, I'm going to double tip my restaurant servers."
Gallagher makes it clear that all people should be considered important during Lent.