- April 26, 2024
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The act of giving up a habit for 40 days isn’t just for Catholics anymore.
Churches of different denominations spoke of the same topic in their sermons this week: the season of Lenten.
Held from Feb. 18 to Apr. 2, Lent is commonly observed by Catholics through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Father Thomas Barrett, Pastor of St. Brendan’s Catholic Church has he notices an increase of 50% in attendance for daily masses.
“Some families have a bowl at dinner where they collect money to be donated to a worthy cause,” said. “I don’t know if anyone else has noticed this, but when you turn on the TV, everyone is capitalized on the Catholic’s food. We don’t eat meat on Fridays, so you see all kinds of seafood specials trying to entice us. We have our Lenten Soup events to keep into the spirit of the season.”
He also said he thinks Ormond Beach is one of the areas where the celebration of Lent is seen more than normal.
“We have a lot of snowbirds here,” Barrett said. “We have them coming to our Lent services because it’s something they grew up with.”
The snowbirds have plenty of options of Lent services this year. Tomoka United Methodist is also observing the 40-day season.
“The season of Lent is become more and more observed in the Protestant churches,” Tomoka United Methodist Pastor Kandace Brooks said. “It used to be associated with only Roman Catholic churches. I think in general Lent is becoming more observed. You see people who are not church-goers who observe. That’s very different. I think it has become so engraved in our culture. Maybe they’re not connected to a traditional church, but they are connected to the practices and the rhythm of the church.”
At TUM, Brooks tries to emphasize not only giving something up, but picking something up as well.
“I try to empathize the traditional giving something up or fasting for something, but not just candy or coffee,” Brooks said. “I try to suggest giving up bad habits like being impatient or too much computer time. I think the even more important aspect of it is picking something up. Doing some additional volunteer work or having more prayer time. Things that not only get you more attuned to the present moment, but more connected with God. Sometimes that’s through service and other people.”
Father Bill Zamborsky of Prince of Peace Catholic Church said he’s not surprised that people think Lent has expanded to other churches, because it used to be practiced by all Christians.
“If you go back 2,000 years there was only one Christian church,” Zamborsky said. “Christians developed this liturgical cycle, and that was rooted in all Christianity. I think some Christians got away from that and are now rediscovering their roots.”
He also said that it is really up to people practicing the Lent disciplines at home to really observe the season.
“It’s something that has to be a part of their daily lives,” Zamborsky said. “We have to give up things, not necessarily because they’re bad, but in order to practice inner discipline and make sure they are not masters over us.”
“It’s a quieter and introspective time,” Brooks said. “We’re really focused on others and serving others.“
“The season of Lent is really a time to refocus our lives,” Barrett said. “Things can get out of control, so this calls us to a more simple way of life.”
