Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-15
LENT.
The PenitentIaI Season and its His.
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Ash Wednesday this year fell on FebTu.
airy IA, which was also st. Valentines Dav
and with it commenced the season of Lent,
which sderives its name from the Saxon
word signitying strengthening" indicative Of
the spring season. 1t is a time set apart by
the Roman Catholic and Episcopal Church
es for penitence and meditation, preparato-
ry to the great festival of Easter.
Is seems clear that the original fast be-
fore Easter was one Of forty hours, being
the period between the death of our Lord
and bis resurrection. Additional DAYS
were prefixed for the encouragement OF de-
votion, the number varying in different
churches; when the custom of adding them
was first introduced it is not easy to deter
mine. Cassian, A. D. 420, says that some
churches kept their Lent six, others
seven weeks; yet none exceeded thirty-six
fasting days; Sundays were deducted; and,
in the case of seven weeks, Saturdays also,
except one, Easter Eve. He afirms that
the observation Of Lent was not primitive;
the season was thus set apart in order to
stimulate devotion and to prepare men for
Holy Communion. The forty days fasts
of Moses, of Elias, and of our Lord were
cited as examples. Sozomen, C. 440, writes,
"The Quadragesimal fast before Easter
some observe six weeks, as the Illyrians and
Western churches, and all Libya, Egypt,
and Palestine; others make it seven weeks,
as the Constantinopolitans and neighboring
nations as far as PhGnicia; others fast three
only of those six or seven weeks by inter
walls; others three weeks next Immediately
before Easter; and others fast only two
weeks, as the Montanists.n
Five reasons for the Lent fast are given:
l. The Apostles sorrow for the loss of
their Master. 2. The declersion of print
tive piety. 8. Preparation for Holy Com
munion at Easter. 4. That catechumens
might prepare themselves for baptism; and
5. Penitents for absolution.
In the first three or four centuries much
latitude was allowed in the observation of
the fast of Lent. ChrysOstom recommends
it, yet enforces more strongly the necessity
of good works and alms-giving. The
Council of Orleans, So enjOins fasting I'M
der pain of ecclesiastical censure.
The ancient mode Of observing Lent was
to abstain from all food until evening.
Distinction of meats was not primitive
The greatest ascetiCS made no scruple to
eat meat in Lent, when occasion required
it. 1t was season of abstinence from pub
lie shows, from the celebration of BIRTHDAYS
and marriages, of frequent religious assem-
blies and sermons.
Ash Wednesday and the three days pre-
ceding the first Sunday IN Lent were prob
ably added by Gregory the Great, to COM
plete the number forty, which seemed pc
Ash Wednesday is called CGpW TejunH,
or CGp1d Quddrigestm9, and also Dies
Cinerum.
We find from Gratian's account of the
used upon this day that all peni-
ents, who either then were admitted to
Denance or had been admitted previously,
were presented to the Bishop before the
doors of the church, clothed in sackcloth,
Darefooted, and with countenances detected |
to the earth, Confessing themselves guilty
both by their habit and their looks. They |
were to be attended by the deans or arch
pTesbyters, whose Office was to inspect their !
and enioin upon them penance !
according to the measure of their faults by |
The degrees ofpenance that were appointed. |
After this they b!ing them into the |
church and then the Bishop, with |
al the clergy, falling PROSTATE on
he ground, sing the seven penitential |
psalms, with tears, for their absolution. |
After this the Bishop, rising from prayer,
gives them imposition of hands, sprinkles |
hem with holy water, puts ashes upon |
heir heads, and covers them with sack |
10th, declaring with signs and groans that, |
Is Adam was cast out of Paradise, so they |
Ire for their sins cut out of the Church. |
Then he commands the inferior ministers |
20 eXpel them out Of the doors of the |
Church, and the clergy follow them, using |
his respOnSory, "In the sweat of thy face |
shalt thou eat thy bread; for dust thou art,
md unto dust thou shalt return" In the |
End of Lent, on the Thursday before |
Easter, the deans and reSbyters are to pre-
tent them before the door of the church !
lgain.
In the English church a service called |
'Commmation, or Denouncing Of Gods !
Anger and Judgments against Sinners" is |
appointed to be read on Ash Wednesday in |
,lace of the discipline above described,
until the said discipline may be restored |
gam, which is much to be wished" says |
he opening address. The service consists
# dozen curses gathered out of Deutero-
lomy, an exhortation by the miAister, the
'Salm "Aiserere mel, Deus" and some
AACA1 PAogCAos
In the Roman Catholic Church, previous
0 the Mass on Ash Wednesday, the service
# blessing and distributing the ashes is
reformed. The ashes are performed by
BURNING the palms cOnsecrated on Palm
sunday of the previous year. After the
versicle and response, and four
'rayers, the priest sprinkles the ashes with
loly water, saying the anthem ''Thou shalt
prinkle me with hyssop, o Lord, and shall
'e cleansed; thou shalt wash me, and 1
hall be whittier than snow" He then fumi-
ates them with incense three times; then
,neeling before the altar, he puts some of
he consecrated ashes on his own head,
marking bis forehead with the sign of the
ross, and doing the same, first, to those in
tendance at the altar, and then to the
as they come mp and kneel at
he altar rail, saying to each in Latin: Gre
member, man, Chat thou art dust, and unto
ust thou shalt return" In the meantime
he choir sing the appointed anthems, and
fer prayer the proper mass for the day is
egun.