The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-22
The Fasting Season.

LENT AND HOW 1T SHOULD BE KEPT.
Yesterday, Ash Wednesday being the first day Of
Lent celebrated with becoming solemnities in the
Episcopalan and Roman Catholic churches throughout
the city. At the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Prince
street, the customary services of the confteor
strictly observed.
The observance of this day originated from the :ent
ceremony of blessing the ashes that day with which
the priest marked the forehead OF the peni
tent, saying, at the same time:
''Memento, homo quod pulvs es, ct in pulverem re-
vefters."
Literally "Remember man, thou art dust and shalt
return to dust"
Although the celebration Of these fast and feast
days are not much observed in this country, in
Roman Catholic communities they are regarded as Of
the utmost Importance.
Last Tuesday was the end Of the carnival, and Is
known as Shrove tide, day looked forward to with
great interest in the Od Country as the season Of fun
and pancakes. There the wish of old and young Is
Let glad shrove Tuesday bring the pancake thin
Or fritter rich, with apples stored within
In the Roman Catholic Church the faithful nterdct
ed, during Lent from forming any matrimonial alliances
whatever Accordingly from Sunday preceding Lent to
Ash Wednesday there more connubial knots tied
than any other three days in the year. We in
formed that on last Sunday, in the Roman Catholic
churches in this city, the Of number of unhappy
twcs anxious to be made happy ones announced
from the altar
During the forthcoming six weeks, ending on Easter
Sunday, the communicates of the Catholic Church
expected to abstain from the OF flesh meats and
other such rarities and besides, otherwise mortify
their sinful bodies The following from old English
poet, may afford hint on how
TO KEEP TRUE LENT.
10 this . fast, to keep
The l&ider lcane
And cieane
From fat of veales and sheep:
Isit to quit the dish
OF h 70 HI y's 'sil'
The platter high with 6shP
sit TO fast hour
Or rass'd 10 go,
downcast look and sour
No tits fast to dole
Thy sheaf Of wheat
And meat
Onto the hungry soul.
It Is to fast from strife,
From old debate,
And hate
10 circumcise thy life.
To show . heart griefrent;
To starve thy sin
And that's to Keep thy Lent.
Il win be noticed in the official notdcaton which we
give below that the dspensatons granted by the Arch
Bishop are more numerous this year than usual II
appears that after next Sunday meat is allowed Mon
days Tuesdays and Thursdays, during the continuance
of Lent. This is good news for the butchers.
In olden times Lent the for number Of
ceremonies that almost forgotten, and live but
in tradition We orncd that the custom at
one time in England, for the urchns towards the end
OF Lent TO 90 from house 10 another beating pieces
Of sticks together, and crying
Herrpgs, behring's, white q red,
Ten a penny, Lnt's dead;
Rise dame and give egg
Or else piece OF bacon.
One for Peter, two Tor Paul,
Three for Jack, Lent's all
Away, Lieut. away.
and II the dame refused the specimens Of Young Eng
and existing at that day the expected argsss they left
;he house crying
Here sits bad wife,
The devil tale her life
Set her upon swivel,
And send her TO tho devil
But there singular customs are fast passing away,
and with them many OF the most remarkable pe,uari
ties Of the age they were produced in There stu
few revering spirits who hold them in pou, recollection
believing that the events persons they comm.mo.
rated deserving Of remembrance, and feeling more
over that the Observance Of those days do much u,
wards keeping their memories green"
The following the regulations for Lent for the pre-
sent yea:-
/. An the week Gays Of Lent, from Ash Wednesday
till Easter sunday fast days OF prscept ON one
meal with the alowancs OF q moderate collation..
q ne preeert OF fasting implies also that OF abst
hence from ths use Of hesh meat.
Bot b. aispensation the uss Of flesh meat so we'd