Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-03-08

Among very many of our church
going readers this is known as the
season of Lent. 1t commenced on
Wednesday week ago. 1t will not
end until Easter Sunday. The period
embracedis forty-six days six of those
being Sundays, arc not reckoned by
the faithful among the Lenten days.
The forty days embraced are com
memoratiye of our blessed Lords
preparation to enter on his public life.
He went into the desert and ate moth
ing, and after forty days he felt hun
ger. He was then tempted by the
evil one, for as a man, he suffered it ia
be so, having taken on himself our in.
frmities to thus teach us by example.
The practice of commemorating this
fast is in vogue since the days of the
Apostles. The Catholic church has
always celebrated, it. Even in this
enlightened age it publishes its fasts
and prescribes the Lenten, or curtail-
ed, quantity and quality of food to be
used by its faithful. In European
countries, where the Catholic church
holds sway, those rules are aorc OF
/
less strictly enforced. In this country,
through its bishops, it grants many
relaxations. The Episcopal and other
Protestant churches that commemor-
ate Lent here leave its manner
Of observance entirely at the dis
erection Of individual members.
But all unite in exhorting,us-poor,
careless mOrtals-toturn our thoughts,
during Lent toward the forever to
come. Many, who at other times never
go to church, are induced to do SO
during this season, and commence
soon to think that the business of the
next world is of more Importance than
is ordinarily regarded. The pulpit
echoes will ring this salutary truth
into our ears. Our preachers, with
powerful and studied elOquence, pro-
claim it every Sunday. The Catholic
priests, though admittedly a most
learned body, do not generally appear
before their congregations with
studied, emotional sermons. 1t often
occurs to the observer how coolly
they take this matter, and yet claim
to be the representatives of the only
true church. Although they are ever
ready " to give a reason for the faith y
that is within them, they do not gene
rally invite us there to listen to them
During Lent it is otherwise. Courses
OF lectures are being delivered in each
OF their churches every Sunday even.
ing. AtSt. Peters the French Father
Raville lectures on the Philosophy Of
Religion. Father Lucius diseourses
to the Germans, at St. Mary's. Faith
ers Doyle and Foley preach mora
subjects at ST. Patrick,s. At St
Bridgcts Father Walsh lectures OIL
the Religion of Conscience; and
Father Luezelli breaches in Italian
and English at st. ,Joscph's church.
1t is probable that more will attend
the churches than are likely to OBJ.
serve the fasts But they may be.
come better Christians all the while.
Christ tells us somewhere to initiate
the serpent. 1t is said that when the
serpent grows old it crawls into some
private place to rest. 1t lays there
fasting for forty days. 1t is then pretty
lentus or lean, and feels hungry.
When it proceeds to crawl out again
in search of food it loses its old skin.
is clothed in a new one, and is young
once more. Many an old sinner who
reads this might profit by the example
of the serpent, and become a newly
virtuous maR by Easter Sunday.