The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-02-22
Tn the name of the FATHER and
the SON and the HOLY GHOST
Amen.

mind YOU of the obligations connected :
with the Holy Fast of LENT, and to
urge upon you the due observance OF
it, according to the customs OF our
branch of the Universal Church OF
Christ.
To all faithful churchmen l need on
IL say that the origin of Lent is clearly
tracable to IL period very near that OF
the Holy Apostles-for the 9th Apos-
tolic Cannon is in these words. "lf any
Bishop, Priest, Deacon, Reader or Sing
or, do not keep the Holy Fast OF Lent
forty days cefore Easter, or the wed
aesdays and Fridays, let him be de-
, posed, if ho be not l,indered by some
bodily iufirmity, but if he be layman,
let him be suspended from the commu-
nion." Chiefly, however, arc we to re-
gard its annual recurrence, as the pc
riod in which we are to study the SUI
; feriug life of our blessed Redeemer'
! .swbo did humble Himself for us men
7 and for salvation" In this way we
: may more certainly find out how our
S sins ought to make US very humble and
:. lead us to the fountain filed with blood,
Q to wash them all away.
If in the earlier days of the Christian
Church, holy men deemed it wise to
l. thus annually commemorate the fast
e ing and passion of our Lord, to call
4 her children, for awhile, away from the
, destinations and engrossiug cares of an
- ungodIy world. If all along through,
y at least fifteen centuries her Bishops
70 with the ''noble army of the martyrs
TO found it beneficial discipline to subject
ut themselves and their bodies to strict
I'd regimen of abstinence and prayer. II
he they found that the elmer life-a life
et hid with Christ in GOD, could be best
ur cultivated by more frequent acts of hui
II initiation and devotion-surely, broth
:. rem, we, who are so hemmed in by
=. constan temptations to forget and neg
~, lect holy life, should be only too gla'
~ to respond to the Church's loving invi
We tations to go with Tier Lord into thu
In wilderness and contemplate His humil
it ty. contemplate His triumphs over tn
be same Satan who roars daily about on
ill pathway, contemplate His heavenl
mr. min dedness and like Him when tn
>vo season is past to have the blessed An
gels to minister unto us.
NC This Lenten-tide can only be blesse
eel; to your spiritual improvement an
us true progress in the divine life, by fol
it'll lowing the example of the blessed JE
ase SUS who withdrew Himself from til
Der world and tasted for forty days i'll til
wilderness. In this withdrawal whic
the Church recommends, she woul
m not have you to understand semi-m'
ard nasticism, a complete segregation fro
fa1 active life, either domestic or publ
go But she desires that, so far as possih
YOU should disconnect yourself fro
10 the stream of worldly scenes upC
'Ae- which you have allowed yourself to
ihe borne and which engender forge
l is fitness of God and the realities of etc
ion nifty. She would have you come
,re- into the calmer waters of meditatio
He. self examination, where you will ha
more time for prayer and the suhjug
of the lusts of the flesh, which W
oh. against the soul. In this Holy seas
our she will refresh your minds with t
tho solemn obligations which you assum
W. when you was regenerated and graft
into the body of Christ's Church. S
will show you that no carnal wcap
pas can avail against the Devil and all
pete works, the pomps and vanities of t
tor wicked world and all the sinful lu
lick of the flesh" She will show you h
to "crucify the flesh with its afftctit
and lusts "
the Therefore, beloved let me- intr
be- you to commence this Lent deeply
und earnest, resolving by Gods help
lust conquer sin in your mortal bodies {
9TH to get nearer to Him, who has come
,nds near to you as to yield His life r
-. som for you. No other period of
MISC entire Christian year is so fav orable
the cultivation of the graces of
cro- Holy Spirit. Having wisely pas
rs through the solemn duties of Lent, ,
chial shall find when Easter nom sheds
after lustre upon the church, that you
with have risen with your Lord unto NJ
nit ness of life.
con- Remember that with ASH WEDN
and DAY, begins the solemn season, and
t re- days until Easter, excepting Sund
, and which are Feasts of the resurectio
irri- Lent, but not Of Lent,) are to be
served as days of fasting and pra
To aid you in these duties your Pas
:, on proposes, God willing, to celeb
prop Divine Service in the church on
was following days:
Total 1. Wednesdays and Fridays a
of an O'Clock ~, throughout Lent.
2. During Holy WEEK, there wi
Services every day at IL O'Clock
nave, with the following exceptions:
with 3. Upon Holy THURSDAY, {