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Today�s edition of the Ventura County Star includes about why, exactly, Catholics make sacrifices or �give something up� for Lent. Featured in the article is a graduate of the College, Dr. Andrew Seeley (�87), who is now a member of the teaching faculty. Portions of the story are excerpted below:

�For some Catholics, Lent is an opportunity to lose weight, but what motivates them is, �I want to lose weight and look good, and this is the time to do it,� � said Andrew Seeley, a tutor at 91����� Aquinas College in Santa Paula. �That is a superficial approach to Lent.� �

Seeley said he plans to give up listening to sports talk radio. There�s nothing wrong with it, but in a world cluttered with distractions, he believes it�s important to humble yourself into silence now and then.

�The constant distraction says, �I don�t want to think of anything. I don�t want to be aware of myself,� � Seeley said.

Seeley, whose teaching specialty is medieval theology, said it�s a sign of our times that many have lost the true link between self-denial and deeper spirituality.

�In every other culture and era, it is understood that we must deny ourselves,� Seeley said.

Self-denial is just [one] component of Lent, Seeley said. The faithful are also asked to pray more and be more merciful to others, or the �giving of alms.�

Seeley believes it�s not a good idea to skip the self-denial aspect of Lent, because it is a humbling experience that will connect us with those who are less fortunate. �

The importance of self-denial can be likened to an athlete in training, Seeley said.

�Pain gets our attention. When we choose to suffer pain, we�re either insane or up to something really important,� Seeley said. �Athletes really pound their bodies because they want to make themselves stronger. Not only do we admire their success, but their strength of will.�