Lent puts focus on penitence

A final sip of soda marks the end of her meal. She is content. Her entire dining experience was superb. The french fries, the hamburger and the service were impeccable. She relaxes for a moment, only to feel a sudden tweak of her conscience. Then, the realization sets in.

She's Catholic. Today is Friday. And this is the middle of Lent.

Eating that hamburger was technically against Church rules. Healthy adult Catholics age 14 and older are required to abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and every Friday during Lent. Nevertheless, innocent mistakes, like the one in the hypothetical situation above, are not uncommon. Just ask Zorianna Klymochko (junior-hotel, restaurant and institutional management).

"Sometimes I won't even realize it's Friday and I'll take a bite of something and realize it's meat," said Klymochko, a Catholic. "But I'd probably eat it because it's a sin to throw out food, too."

Furthermore, "giving up" something, like chocolate or soda or any number of luxuries, is commonly associated with the Lenten season. Hlubik said sacrificing luxuries is a way to exercise spiritual discipline and show solidarity with the poor. For instance, the few dollars saved on that soda and chocolate could be put in a donation box at church, he said. What's more, Lent is also a time for new members to come into the Catholic Church, Hlubik added.

For those who observe the season, including Lutherans, Episcopalians and other denominations, Lent is foremost a time to prepare for the celebration of Easter.

Lent is a 40-day period -- excluding Sundays -- leading up to Easter. The season starts on Ash Wednesday and lasts until Easter. Most Christians will celebrate Easter on April 12, although Eastern Orthodox Christians will observe it one week later.

The season is marked by a more subdued nature, said the Rev. Canon Ed Messersmith, campus minister for Episcopal Campus Ministry.

"Lent is focused on issues like spiritual growth, reflection and penitence," Messersmith said. "In Lent, you say 'time-out, let's really examine our life and our relationship with God.' "

Like the Lutheran Church, the Episcopal Church does not mandate certain Lenten observances, Messersmith said. However, in addition to giving up something, Episcopalians often add something extra to their Lenten regimen, Messersmith added.

"In place of that which you give up, you're supposed to take something on that will stretch you spiritually," he said, citing examples like performing volunteer work, saying extra prayers and attending extra church services.

Debbie Ursiny knows all about that. Although Ursiny, a Catholic, ditched alcohol for the season, she added a weekday Mass to her Lenten schedule.

Indeed, "taking on" activities is one of the most rewarding aspects of Lent, Hlubik said.

"A lot of people say, for your penance, instead of giving something up, give something," he said.

But for Catholics, what about that hamburger that was accidentally devoured on a Friday?

"There's no sin involved at all," Hlubik said. "It's not intentional. If you forget, you forget. But, you could say, 'I ate meat today, what can I do as an act of penance to make up for that.' "