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Lent on campus means more fasting, less Facebook

In the early seventh century, Pope St. Gregory issued the following rule about the 40 days of Lent: "We abstain from flesh, meat, and from all things that come from flesh, as milk, cheese and eggs."

If St. Gregory were alive today, he probably would be fascinated that Marquette students observe Lent by abstaining not only from meat, but also chocolate, high fructose corn syrup, monosodium glutamate, and a bunch of blue and white photons jumping off liquid crystal display screens. Marquette Magazine asked students what they planned to give up — and why.

"I think I'm going to give up chocolate. It sounds really simple, but I love it so much it's hard. I'm Catholic and Lent is very important to me. I think fasting is a sign of our own sacrifice and relating that to Jesus' sacrifice for us." — senior Erin Blaney

"Television and soda pop. Television because that way I'll spend more time on my studies. Soda pop because it's an extra drink that is unnecessary and not as healthy as water or juice." — junior Tom Barnard

"Facebook … and candy, and no meat on Fridays. Facebook takes up too much of my time and attention. It's not productive." — sophomore Marlena Eanes

"I do [like] snacking between meals. So the big things I try to avoid are chips, sweets and candy bars. And cut down on meals like breakfast and lunch, but not necessarily dinner. And of course, no meat on Fridays." — first-year dental student Brian Michel

"Probably something like Facebook or anything that sucks away from my studying. I have so many activities going on that sometimes fasting is a great way to refocus on things I have to do or commitments in my life." — freshman Mark Caballero

"Snacks between meals so in my spare time I can read the Bible more so I can focus on God. Sometimes food can be a distraction, and fasting can lead to deeper thoughts about life and my purpose for living." — freshman Nia Taylor

"I love sweets. I'm a meat eater, too, so I'm also going to stay away from that. During Lent, you're supposed to relate to Jesus' suffering, so fasting helps you grow spiritually and to draw you closer to Jesus. It makes you think about your faith by depriving yourself of the things that you love." — sophomore Pierre-Carole Tchouapi