The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1871-02-25

LENT.-The first day of Lent, Ash Wednes-
day, was on the ed instant. The deriva-
ton of the word Lent is obscure, but Webster
thinks it comes from the Anglo-Saxon word
ieacgaH, meaning to lengthen because at this
time of the year the days become longer. Be
this as it may, the word Lent is now under
stood to mean a period of forty days com
mencirg on Ash Wednesday and terminating
at Easter. It's a season set apart by various
religious denominations, but more particularly
by the Roman and Greek Catholic churches,
for special fasting and prayer. The high
church sects in the Episcopal and Lutheran
churches also adhere to a certain extent to the
observance OF Lent. But in the great bulk of
the Protestant denominations it is wholly
ignored. The time of fasting, 40 days, is typ
ical of the fast of our Saviour, described in
Matthew w: "And when he had tasted
forty days and forty nights, he was atterward
a hungered."
Casting aside the religious view of Lent,
nearly all psychologists assert that the strict
observance of 40 days fasting at the present
season of the year is conducive TO health and
in accordance with the fundamental princi-
pies of the laws of Hygiea. During the winter
the food we eat IS more gross than that we eat
during summer; impurities and humors col
leet in the body and we all feel dull and drow-
sy with predIspostion, as Spring advances,
to attacks of bilious nature To obvate all
lulS CuTU On our appcbltS Is necessary. ana IL
would be well, if, for the ensuing forty days,
a strict regimen was observed and a certain
amount of abstinence enforced.
Regulations similar to the following will be
observed by Catholics during the lenten season ::
I. All the faithful who have completed their
twenty first year, unless legtimately dis pensed,
are bound to observe the fast OF Lent.
2. They are to make only one full meal day
excepting Sundays.
3. The meal. allowed on fast days is not to
be taken till about noon.
4. At that meal, If on any day permission
should be granted for eating flesh, both flesh
and fish are not to be used at the same time,
even by way of sauce or condiment.
). small refreshment, commonly called
collation., is allowed in the evening. No gen.
eral rule as to the quantity of food permitted at
this time is or can be made but the practice
fthe most regular christians is never to let it
exceed the fourth part of an ordinary meal.
g. General usage has made it lawful to drink
in the morning some warm liquids, as tea, cof-
fee or thin chocolate made with water.
I. Necessity and custom have authorized the
use of hogs lard, instead of butter, in preparing
fish, vegta bles, ect.
s. The following persons are exempted from
the obligation of fasting: Young persons I'M
der twenty-one years of age, the sick, pregnant
women, or those giving suck to infants, persons
obliged to do hard labor and all who through
weakness cannot fast without great prejudice
to their health.
9. By dispensation the use of fresh meat will
be allowed at any time Sundays and once
a day on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and
Saturdays, in Ember week and the last four
days of Lent.
10. Persons dispensed from the obligation of
fasting are not bound by the restriction of us
ing meat only at one meal ON days on which
its use is granted by dispensation. Those who
are obliged to fast are permitted to use meat
only at one meal.
H. The time for making the Easter commu-
Mon will date from the first Sunday of Lent to
Trinity Sunday inclusive.