Fast. Pray. Serve. You’ve seen the signs all around the campus. At the bottom of each sign, it says, “Lent at Fordham.” Some students may have only heard about what Lent is from their friends while other students may have only heard about Lent since they entered Fordham. Lent is considered an important season for the church. The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which was on Feb. 22, and ends on Holy Thursday, which is on Apr. 5, making Lent last for a total of 40 days.

Fordham, with the help of Campus Ministry, has organized a series of Lenten reflections and discussions to help students and faculty understand the Lenten season a little bit better. One of the discussions is called “Women of Faith.” These discussions took or will take place on some of the Mondays of Lent. (Feb. 27, Mar. 5, Mar. 19, Mar. 26). Each discussion is about how faith informs life with a different women from history. After each discussion, Lenten soup and bread is provided.

According to Fordham’s “Fast, Pray, Serve” pamphlets, the season of Lent has a three-fold purpose. For one, this season is a time of the church’s preparation for the upcoming season of Easter. It is also a time for those people who are seeking Baptism to be purified and enlightened. Lent is also a season of spiritual renewal for all the faithful. In this season of preparation, the Christian community comes together in voluntary fasting, praying and serving.

The first “Women of Faith” discussion was held on Feb. 27. There was a screening of a movie called “Vision: The Story of Hildegard von Bingen.” According to the movie’s description, von Bingen is a 12th century Benedictine nun who is also known for being a Christian mystic, composer, philosopher, playwright, physician, poet, naturalist, scientist and ecological activist. She was the first female rebel who retransmitted her visions to the world for the greater glory of God and mankind. The movie portrayed von Bingen as a significant and important woman who was a great influence during her time.

The Lenten season also allows people to prepare for the season of Easter in their own spiritual way. For many people, this means giving up something for the duration of the Lenten season. Michael Macalintal, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’15, has chosen to give up two things during this season of preparation. “I chose to give up cursing and soda,” Macalintal said.

Another student, Sofi Muñoz, FCLC ’15, also chose to give up two things. “For Lent this year, I decided to give up sarcasm and sweets.”

For other people, the season of Lent is about doing something more than what they normally do. Aside from giving up sarcasm and sweets, Muñoz has also decided to visit the Stations of the Cross on Fridays, something extra she chose to do.

Dorie Goehring, FCLC ’13, also decided to do something extra rather than give something up. “I’m trying to be more present and deliberate in my actions,” Goehring said.

Paolo Perez, FCLC ’15, normally chooses to do something extra during the season of Lent. “I used to never give up anything that is physical. I would do something extra, such as try to do all my homework, or try to be a better person,” Perez said. “This year, I’ve decided to give up food from halal carts.”

Why do students decide to do Lent and either give something up or do something extra? “My parents had told me it’s the right thing to do; but now I believe it’s something I have to do,”  Macalintal said. “It feels like it’s something I have to do for self-improvement. I’m trying to be more mature; cursing is too elementary. As I got older, I realized that there are better ways to say certain things.”

For Perez, his parents also played a valuable part in choosing to participate in Lent. “My parents raised me to do it, and now I do it by choice,” Perez said. “I gave up halal cart food because I love it and think that giving it up now is a good time to reflect and consider the sacrifice of the Lord in the desert and during the Paschal Mystery.”