Soon, Nathan Stein will be able to devour an ice cream sundae, Jordan Sertich may once again enjoy a caffeine buzz, and Dave Kubik can set his alarm back 15 minutes.

These ISU students are among millions of Christians across the country whose Lenten resolutions will come to an end Sunday. These resolutions are personal commitments to sacrifice or practice something during Lent, a season of religious observance during the 40 days before Easter.

“It definitely helps as far as self-discipline, and it helps you to focus on what’s going on for Lent and what you’re preparing for,” says Dave Kubik, freshman in construction engineering.

Kubik has spent the last few weeks getting out of bed 15 minutes early in order to allow extra time for prayer and reading the Bible. He says he believes this commitment helps him to be more focused on God throughout the day. Kubik says when he is tired, he is reminded of the resolution he has made and this brings his mind back to God.

Stein, junior in civil engineering, has also made a commitment to increasing the time he spends reading religious literature. Along with this, his resolution includes sacrificing ice cream for the entirety of the Lenten season.

“Ice cream kind of seems like a stupid thing to give up to most people,” Stein says.

He says, however, it is a difficult sacrifice for him to make. He says by giving up something that he will think about frequently and will in turn make him uncomfortable, he is afforded many opportunities for reflection and prayer. Stein says sacrificing even something small for Lent helps Catholics to understand the sacrifices they believe Christ made for them.

Jordan Sertich, senior in Spanish, says Lent is not only a time for reflection on her relationship with Christ, but also on her daily life as a Catholic and her involvement in the community. Her resolution involves the sacrifice of coffee, attending noon Mass services and reading the daily gospel.

“[Giving up coffee] is difficult for me personally, but not when I put it in perspective for how other people live their lives,” she says, referring to those who live without proper nutrition.

She says this is why the Catholic Church places emphasis not only on fasting or sacrificing, but also on prayer and giving to charity, or alms giving.

Father Scott Boone of St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 2210 Lincoln Way, says Catholic children are taught to give up something like candy during Lent, but that Catholic adults need to put effort into each of these three areas in order to fully appreciate the Lenten season.

“In private prayer we are put in communion with God,” he says. “In fasting, we’re able to give up our excess to see others’ needs, especially the hungry of the world. In alms giving we’re able to see the needs of others by giving what we have so that others may have and not lack.”

Boone says focusing on these three areas during Lent helps Catholics not only to recognize their need for God, but also to help them to become more socially conscious.