The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-10
THE SEASON OF LENT.

To-day begins the season Of fasting and praying
ordained to commemorate the forty days. fast Of our
Saviour In the wilderness. The Church lays aside
its emblems or grandeur and glorification, and,
robed In the habilimcnts OF sorrow accompanies Its
divine Founder in spirit, sympathizes with Him in
His humiliation and tribulation and shows by all
exterior means the mental anguish which is felt for
the sufcrings borne by and the disgraces inflicted
on the son OF God.
Al present appearances would Indicate that tins
year the observance OF this holy season in the me-
tropolis win he more general and more genuine than
IL has been in years past. Almost all the churches
have completed the necessary preparations. and the
congregations have given evidences o. taking part
in the ceremonies and celebrations with comi1lenda
bic earnestness. The first day OF Lent as all know,
Is styled
This day Is called by the Church CGDa JejuRii
1.-THE beginning OF the fast and derives the name
Ash wednesday from the custom of sprinkling the
hair and garments with ashes as symbol OF grief
for the Of our Saviour, and also rs method
OF performing penance for the transgressions OF the
past year. The custom Of sprinkling the ashes on
the garments is not now observed, but 1T commence
rated by making cross on the forehead with ashes
blessed by the priest at the mass OF the day. The
ashes used are obtained by burning the particles OF
altar linen, blessed wood Other furniture OF the
church which has been damaged or broken during
the year. and the portions OF blessed palm remaining
since the previous Palm Sunday, The ceremony Of
distributing the ashes Is performed by the officiating
clergyman The faithful approach the altar rails and,
Teverently kneeng, are marked with the sign OF the
cross. the officiating clergyman meanwhile recitfng
the solemn remembrancer. .'Henlento homo, quOd
plcis es et IN pittUerea reuertets' lrenemter man.
tnou art dust and into dust shalt thou return).
In the Episcopal Church the use OF ashes is not
recognized and the day is celebrated with the read
ing Of the appropriate psalms. lessons and anthems,
the singing Of hymrs and pronouncing the maledic-
tions against mpentent sinners at the end OF each
OF which the congregation answer "Amen."
Immediately preceding the Lenten season comes
the festival Of
srgovE TUESDAY
which. not being holiday OF obligation, has, amid
the OF business, been 80 much neglected as to
be comparatively forgotten. Yesterday this festival
was celebrated In o quiet way in the Catholic
churches, but public display was made TO remind
the Christian OF the fact that the day which,
In years gone by was looked upon az being OF much
importance. In Catholic countries the faithful make
general confession OF their sins preparatory to
tering upon the holy season Of Lent and from this
custom the festival was called Scrttdn ito confess)
from winch the name "Shrove" is derived. The
confessions generally were made In the morning,
and the remainder OF the day spent in pleasure
and sports Of all kinds; but the use OF flesh meat
abstained from. In lieu OF flesh large pancakes were
made and eaten and from this custom is derived the
name sPancake tuesday, The festival ia also called
by the Germans F0stRdch fast night and by the
French NdTrdi GrdS fast Tuesday,