By Emily Hernandez Dominguez, Contributing Writer
On Feb. 22, you will find students walking around campus with ashes in the shape of a cross on their forehead. Catholics and Christians around the globe will be celebrating the first day of the Lenten season.
Lent is a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It is a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter.
Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The ashes symbolize the dust from which God made us (Genesis 3:19). As the priest applies the ashes to a person’s forehead, he says, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust, you shall return.” Alternatively, the priest may speak the words, “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” Ashes also symbolize grief and are a symbol of penance.
Additionally, Catholics fast and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and every Friday until Easter. Saint Leo Dining Services announced they would not serve meat on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023, and Friday, April 7, 2023, in observance of Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
On the Saint Leo campus, Interim Director of University Ministry, Lucas Nocera, shares his excitement about the upcoming season.
“Lent is an opportunity to grow closer to Jesus Christ through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. These three are all things that He not only taught about, but also gave us to do in order to grow in holiness,” Nocera says. “My favorite part about the season of Lent is that it is an opportunity for communities to grow together in holiness. On Ash Wednesday, we’re all going to be walking around campus with black stuff on our foreheads – it is a symbol of being united in our fasting!”
Students interested in participating in Lenten or ministry events can attend 12 pm and 5 pm Masses at St. Leo Abbey. There will be ash distribution from 11 am-2 pm at St. Jude Chapel (Clocktower), as well as from 1:30-4 at St. Leo Abbey. Any student from any faith can receive ashes.
Furthermore, from Monday, March 27 through Thursday, March 30, the monks will host a Lenten Mission talk series at 7 pm each night. Lucas will be speaking on March 28. Lastly, University Ministry and the monks of St. Leo Abbey will be offering a Penance Service at 7 pm on April 3, the Monday of Holy Week.
Students of all faiths are encouraged to join the ministry in different ways during this season of Lent.
“I would just like all of our students on campus to know of the love God has for them, and to join us in community for support in their prayer, fasting, and almsgiving!” Nocera exclaims.
