by Andy Ortiz

The St. John Bosco community is celebrating this Lenten season by giving up some of their favorite possessions, activities and vices for a 40 day span, while also concentrating on what they can do more to be the best versions of themselves for the benefit of others.

The Christian season of Lent lasts from Ash Wednesday, February 14th, and ends on Saturday March 30th on Holy Saturday, the eve of Easter. It is an important holiday, not just for us as Braves, but for all Christian communities the world over.

“Lent to me is one of the sorrowful yet most beautiful times for a Christian. To me, Lent is not sorrowful, more of a beautiful reminder of the glory that’s come and will come,” said Campus Ministry junior Emmanuel Garcia.

For those that may not know, the 40 days of Lent refers to the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert all on his own: reflecting, fasting and praying. For us, Lent is meant to be our spiritual preparation for Easter, where we focus on the essentials of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It is considered to be a season of rebirth and a time for new opportunities.

“Lent helps us examine our walk with Christ and to look at the times we have turned away from Him and turned toward sin instead,” said sophomore religion teacher Mrs. Mary Machado. “It helps reorient us to Christ.”

Part of Lent is to give something up that you like or enjoy as a small sacrifice so that we can better put our time into God. But other than the sacrifice, there can also be positive applications to improve one’s overall life. One could do more valuable things and spend more time in prayer and reflection.

“This Lent I’m trying to do more spiritual reading and to cut way down on the internet and snacking,” said Chair of the Theology Department Mr. Joseph Griffin. “I’m also making a more intentional effort to attend the daily morning mass here at Bosco at 7:20am as many days a week as I can.”

Our Bosco Braves and teachers alike have been making a tried and true effort to make some small sacrifices that will help them be closer to Christ.

“I am giving up my bed and warm showers for Lent. I think these are simple ways to bring a bit of discomfort and suffering into my life in accordance with where I feel I currently am spiritually,” said Campus Ministry senior Michael Rodriguez.

Jesus’ fortitude during his 40 days in the desert is a sign of fortitude that pushes our Bosco community to do and be their best. Many of our Braves see the importance of the Lenten holiday and want to celebrate it to the fullest.

“This Lenten season I’ve decided to give up bad habits. Many habits in my life can guarantee success, but many can guarantee failure. To be closer with God I need to make sacrifices, and these sacrifices will be the habits I must leave behind,” said Emmanuel.

The truly unique viewpoint that our Bosco Braves share is the motivation for self-improvement. Science teacher Mr. Miller believes that sacrifice shouldn’t be the focal point of Lent, but rather the strength to leave behind bad habits that control us to make ourselves and the world around us better.

“I instead look for ways to give of myself more. Finding ways to serve my community by giving blood, donating to causes, beach clean-ups, giving to food drives, focusing on the gifts [and] abilities I have that may serve others,” said Mr. Miller. “It gives me the opportunity to serve those who may be less fortunate than myself.”