Ash Wednesday on Feb. 18 will mark the beginning of the Lenten season for many Asbury University students, a 40-day period of spiritual preparation leading up to Easter that emphasizes prayer and fasting. Campus observances will include a Lenten Musical Worship service hosted by the music department at chapel on Feb. 18.
Lent, historically rooted in Christian tradition, is observed by many denominations as a time of repentance, spiritual discipline and preparation for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection.
Reverend Dr. Greg Haseloff, Asbury’s Pastor of Discipleship, explained that Lent developed as a period set apart for spiritual reflection and preparation within the early church.
“In the history of the church, the beginning of the season of Lent is setting apart a period of seven weeks in preparation for Easter,” said Haseloff. “As far as the church goes, it was a way of saying, ‘We are going to focus on repentance. We’re going to focus on prayer.’”
The word Lent originates from a word associated with the lengthening of days in spring, symbolizing renewal and growth. Haseloff emphasized that the season was historically a period for welcoming new Christians into the faith.
“The season for Lent is this building up to an introspection, repentance, prayer, and preparation for celebrating a calendar of the death of Christ, celebrating the resurrection of Christ,” said Haseloff.
Although Lent is often associated with Catholicism, Haseloff noted that its roots extend across Christian traditions.
“It has come out of both what we might say is a Catholic tradition, as well as a long history of Orthodox Christianity,” said Haseloff.
Common Lenten practices include abstaining from meat on Fridays and Ash Wednesday, fasting from specific foods or habits, increasing prayer, participating in confession and adding spiritual disciplines into your daily life.
“I’d say that Lent is a great time to take another step in spiritual disciplines,” said Haseloff. “That is kind of one of the key invitations in that.”
For some students, Lent is deeply connected to childhood faith practices. Sophomore Maddie Meiman said observing Lent has long been part of her spiritual life.
“Growing up Catholic, Lent was a regular practice that me and my family would participate in,” said Meiman. “We would fast from meat every Friday.”
Meiman emphasized that fasting has remained meaningful as she has grown older, as it creates space for her to draw closer to Jesus and remove distractions from her life.
Meiman emphasized that Lent can be beneficial for students no matter their different Christian traditions.
“I think it is a good practice, because it creates space for you to draw near to the Lord and removes things from your life that could be distracting you from hearing his voice,” said Meiman.
Campus chapel services and musical worship events during Lent are intended to provide opportunities for reflection, especially for students who may be unfamiliar with liturgical traditions like Ash Wednesday and Lent.
