Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-17
THE LENTEN SEASON.
The Beginning OF the Great Church
Fast To-MOrrow-The Rules for its

The Beginning OF the Great Church
Fast TO-MOrrow-The Rules for its
Observance.
The lenten fast commences tomorrow,
and will be observed by the atholic and
Protestant Episcopal churches generally,
and to some extent by members Of other
denominations. Bishop Beckwith. of the
Episcopal Church, has issued a pastoral
letter to the clergy and laity in his juris-
dIction, which embraces the entire State
Of Georgia. for their direction and guild
ance during Lent. The rules of the church
require all persons TO abstain from flesh
meat during the period. Young children.
he very poor. and those engaged at hard
labor being excepted.
Bishop Beckwith's letter contains among
other things the following regarding the OBJ
serYance OF the last; For your own good, and
for the sake OF your example. abstain from
worldly amusements. such as theatres. balls,
private parties, novel reading, etc; these
things interfere with the earuestness Of spir-
itusl devot'ons. temut Others TO uugOdliness
anu bring reprOtch upon tac church. Tn"
catechism teaches Us that the benefits which
we receive from partaking Of the Lords sup
;..r are the strengthening and refreshing Of
cur souls 10y the body and blood Of Christ. as
our bottles are by the bread and wine; the
uore earnestly you labor to conquer your
sins of word, thought and deed, the more
necessary TO you viii become the
strengthening and refreshing 4 your
souls by the body and blood OF
Jhrist; use every opportunity, there
70 c, OF receiving the holy sacra Dent.
lest strength fail and the soul FAINT. Each
day Gods church will be opened that we NAV
assemble in His presence to confess our sins
90 Him, to hear His holy word, 10 pray for
forgiveness for the past and strength for the
future and &c praise and bless His holy name
l besccch you, neglect not the assembling of
yourselves together as the manner of some is
] know there are many who, for various Tea-
sons. may not be able to meet Gods people in
tine house OF God; to such let me say one word
when YOU hear the church bells ringing, re
member IL Is q call TO prayer: If YOU cannot
20 to public prayer, still you can pray; in
your counting rooms, on the wharves, wher
ever you may be, ana whatever may be your
engagement, you can lift your soul 10 God.
confess your sins to Him. implOre pardon, and
ask for strength and guidance-thus we may
have the Lenten service everywhere. "PraY
without ceaslng.'
In the Catholic Church Ash Wednesday
will be observed with unusual sOlemnity,
the feature of the services being the bles-
sing and distribution of the ashes, which
viii take place at the cathedral. In this
ceremony the ashes are applied to the
fOreheads of the faithful at the altar rail,
the priest, as he applies the ashes, say
iag: ".HementO homo qUid pulUiS est, ct
obtained by the burning of palms blessed
on the Palm Sunday Of the previous year.
The following regulations for Lent have
been published in all the Catholic
Churches:
!. All the faithful who have completed their
twenty hrst year are. unless leSitimately dis
Tensei, bound 70 observe the rs. q Lent.
>. They are TO make only one meal day, CN
ceDting sundays.
8. The meal allowed ON fast days Is not TO be
taken until about noon.
+. Flesh meat and fish are not 70 be used at
the same meal during Lent.
>. 4 small refreShmepL commonly called
collation.. is allowed in the evening, not 70 eN-
coed the fourth part OF q meal.
%. IL IS permitted 10 use bread, butter,
Cheese. eggs. milk, all kinds of fruits, salads,
vegetables. and fish at the collation.:
:. General usage has made 1t lawful 10 take
IN the morning some warm liquid, as tea,
coffee or thin chocolate made with water,
and a mOuthful of bread.
S. Necessity and Custom have authorized
the use Of hog's lard, az we'll as butter, in pre-
pairing permitted food.
Q. The following persons are exempted
from the obligation OF fasting: Persons
under q years OF age; the sick pregnant and
nursing women: those who are obliged to do
hard labor; all who, through weakness, can
not fast without great prejudice to their
health.
10. By dispensatiOn, the use Of flesh meat
viii be allowed at all meals on Sundays, once
"a day on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and
saturdays, with the exception OF Holy
Thursday and the second and last Saturdays
of Lent.
IL. The faithful are reminded that besides
the obligation of fasting imposed by tbs
church, this holy season OF Lent should be IN
an especial manner a time Of earnest prayer
OF sorrow for sin. Of seclusiOn from the wOrlO
and its amusements, and Of generous aims
giving.
y. The Paschal time extends from the first
sunday OF Lent till Trinity sunday, during
which time all Catholics who have attained Z
fitting age are bound to prepare themselves
to receive wOrthily the holy communion. The
holy season Of Lent is a very proper time
also, for children TO 60 TO their hrst confess
sion, which they ought to do generally when
about years of age. Parents should sec tC
this.