The sun., 1862-03-05
THE NEW YORK Sun.
WEDNESDAY, MORNING, MARCH 3, 1862
Tee season Of Lent.

he origin 0. the ason Of Lent or fast,
VSose Jnnsaeeusnt TO-DAY will 10 observed
By Al the Catholic and Episcopal ehurehe
tArOoShosi Cbris,endom, is Of extreme anti.
Guilty. l.vn originally pagan custom, which
srose ffom necessity in human nature to ab-
stain from Hesh meat a, the termination of win.
ter AMI the approach Of warm weather.
The term Lent means in the Saxon from
which 1t IS derived, Sprng.-and in the old !
EnglLh writers We ind such expressions a.
lenten divers, TO indicate the early har. |
lingers Of lengthening days and brighter suns.
10 this Joyous season a religion. s'gnliic ,ncc
va also attached, and the mysterious renewal
or resurrec lion Of nature was held to have some
u1knovn CONNECTION with tho resurrection Of
the soul in a new and Rlor,hsl form.
The commencement Of spripy was celebrated
in tho old,n time Ivy feasts and games, which
wste usually preceded by f,sts. In HERopo-
Tus We read that tho EgyptiAns prepared
ihomselvcs 10y fasting for the fcast of Isis. The
same custom also prevailed in Greece and
Rome At the commencement OF the ioasts 10
the divini,ics Of those nations. We thus find
that in all ages anl countries a sacred signi6-
canee has bOen attached to the season.
Under the Jewish Dispensation this season
was associated with the period Of the greatest
danger TO Goa chosen people, and was designed
70 mark their deiyeranco from tho plague OF
death which fell upon all the first born OF Egypt.
II was thus asa :cialod with the most solemn era
in their history. The term Passover signifies
in llsbrew TO pGSs.orer. II has also a deeper
Bgt eSsnee--The Staying Of the lamb, whose
hlonH sba dfn-. aaiI
sword Of the Destroying Angel, being held to
typify the Messiah, the al Lamb without spot or
blemish, whose blood was afterwards shed for
the remission Of the sins Of the whole world,
and whose sacrifics and resurrection the OBJ
servance of this season by Christians is also
designed to commemorate.
The Jews, durirg the preparation for the
Passover, remain exclusively apart and partake
Cf no leayened bread. IC their food comes into
contact with vessels lot SGT apart specially for
this purpose, it becomes uncleap, and the great.
es, vigilance is used to proven. this con,amlna-
iiop. To them this 7, asst is full of solemn NOM
ories. Itl ads them back to their Exodus or
departure from Egypt TO tho Promised Land.
It's also associated by 'hom with the promises
OF Con fcr their future return TO that land from
which they are now wanderers and their natl on Al
restoration under the Messiah, for whose ADVENT
they still lock.
The earlier Christians Observed tho Spring
last in humble imitation of our Swiors forty
days fast in the wderne a, and US such tn,
Churches now enioin its observance. ltisplN
designed to commemorate the incidents in th
life of or Lord, Who was slain at the co n
memcement Of the jewish Passover. 1h
exact time Of the Observance Of Lent was lonl
q subject OF contention bstwssn the Greek an,
Latin Caurches, and they both observe diff
ferent periods az present. la ths Faster
Churches Lent commences ons week earle
than with u.s.
In a. other column VIII be icrnd the specia
rules Of tho churches Tor tn, o'9o'vauco OF th'
season which ell bo riar ed to'ay ~ r. lic,
reryicss. 1housh the ciuons q ,ao Pfc's.'sa
or ET-c psi Churches enjoin aus ner-r t.pu
mat, yei tho custom is rot ye'y se"oralIy o
strictly oLa,rv.d. The Catbcht Ca1geh, how
evor, Il iar more stringent. Indeed, at III
eighth oouu,i Of Toledo, in G13, it was pro
vided that those who broke the fast yolun'aril.
should be excluded from tho use Of meat durinI
the whole year.
The Church, however, by special dispensation
now releases these stringent iulos, according L
prescribed conditions. OF these a full accoun
will b found slseHhere under the head o
"Ihs Observance Of Lent"
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