National Republican., 1884-02-25
TIE LENTEN SEASON.
Beginning OF tho Season OF Penanco and
Prayer.


Tomorrow is known among the church
people as Shrove Tuesday, and in olden times
IL was known as Shrove.shrft" In Eng
land on this day tho people were accustomed
to confess their sins to the priests, after
which they dined on pancakes The bell
rung on this day was called pancake bell.
Ash Wednesday follows and it is the first
day of Lent, called by tho church fathers
I" the head of tho fast" In the early church
it was tho ordinary time for sinners enter
ing course Of public canonical pcnanco,
into which they were initiated
by the prayers of the bishop, with his
clergy, and the imposition of his hands when
he laid ashes on tho heads of the penitents
This is tho origin of the ceremony of putting
ashes on the foreheads of the pentonts, as
an emblem of the conservation of the heart
to the exercise of penancc. Lent will be-
duly observed by the Catholic and Protestant
Episcopal churches. The faithful will be
called on to lay aside tho worldly amuse-
ments and thoughts, and to turn the mind to
penitence and prayer. Services in both of
these churches will be held regularly every
day, and at times twice and three times day.
The following regulations for Lent have just
been announced for Catholics in the Balti-
more diocese by order Of the most reverend
archbishop:
All tue faithful who have completed their 2lst
year are, unless legitimately dispensed, bound to
observe the fast of Lent.
They are 10 make only one meal day, except
ing Sundays.
The meal allowed on fast daysis not to be taken
Flesh meat and fish are not to be used at the
same meal during Lent.
A small refres shment, commonly called COLA
ton, is allowed in the evening, not to exceed the
fourth part OF an ordinary meal.
AT the collation. 1t is permitted to use bread, all
kinds Of fruits, Salads and vegetables. The use
Of butter, cheese, milk and eggs is also tolerated
by virtue OF long established custom.
General usage has made IL lawful TO take In the
morning some warm liquids, rs tea, coffee, or tn
chocolate made with water aud mouthful of
bread.
Necessity and custom have authorized the use
of hogs lard, instead OF butter, IN preparing per-
mittcd food.
The following persons are exempted from the
obligations OF fasting: Persons under 81 years Of
age; the sick, nursing women; those who are
obliged to do hard labor all whO Through weak
health
BY dispensatIon the use offesh meat will be al
lowed at all meals on Sundays, once day on
Mondays Tuesdays. Thursdays, and Saturdays
with the exception or Holy Thursday and the sec
ond and last Saturdays of Lent.
Persons dispensed from the obligation OF fast
ing, on account of tender or advanced age, hard
labor or III health, are not bound by the resirlc-
ton Of using meat only Ut one meal on days on
which its use is granted by disponsation.
The faithful are reminded that beside the obll-
CATION Of fasting imposed s by the church this holy
time of earnest prayer, of sorrow for sin, of
clusion from the world and its amusements and
of generous almsgiving.
The paschal time extends from the first Sunday
OF Lent till Trinity sunday, during which time
all Catholics who have attained the use of reason
are bound TO prepare themselves to receive
worthily the holy communion. The holy season
Of Lent Is very proper lime, also, for children
70 to their first confession which they ought to do
generally when about years of age. Parents
should see to this.
At st. Peters Catholic church the follow
ing services for Lent have been announced
Every Tuesday evening at 7:15 o'clock the
rosary, with sermon by some invited priest
Of this city or Baltimore, and the benedction
of the blessed sacrament Fridays, at $3.50
and 7:15 p m. the services of "The Way of
the Cross" On week days mass will be said
at $3.50 and a. IN. Similar services will be
held in all the other Catholic churches of the
district.
At Christ church, Epis copal, Navy Yard,
services will be held daily. Confirmation
lectures will be delivered every Wednesday
evening. March 80. confirmation will be
administered by the bishop of Iowa. Similar
services during Lent will be observed in all
the Episcopal churches. varied only by
different usages of high and low church.