Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1891-02-05
Rsv. Mr. Gaass.s Isassn ch.-~..

Rev. Er. GHntt's Lsatsn Charge.
From the first ages Of Christianity the
Church Get apart the season ofLent for our
self-examination, modification and self.
denial The early Christians made public
manifestations Of sorrow and repentance.
Home discipline was most strict. In
sack cloth and ashes they used no other
food but what was necessary 20 preserve
life; some abstsined from flesh; the Greeks
from fish as well as flesh; some ate only
eggs and fruit; others lived only upon
bread and roots. No marriages were al
lowed They INDUCED in neither amuse-
ments nor mirth. We may think this disci-
pline severe, bat IL made heroes and saints.
II conquered kingdoms for Christ Il pu-
rified the morals Of the State and family.
II blessed the nation. and the individual.
The Church never fails 70 see the corrup-
ton Of the world. and The irailty Of hu-
man nature, and she lifts her voice as strong
to-day az eighteen hundreds years ago,
and commands repentance. We may be,
but she Is not lax in her discipline
We may not heed the waning, but she
cries il aloud.
We may refuse the Priest, the altar and
the sacrifice, but she has them ready. /
beg you 10 know her. and TO obey her.
She Is the witness to and keeper Of the
Truth. As early 40 Jan. 25th she turns
from the evergreen OF Christmas and the
Star of Epiphany 70 point you 20 Golgoths
and its cross. More serious than on Sep
tuagesima becomes her voice On that
day In the conversion Of st. Paul. In spe-
ciai prayer and precept she teaches Whist
true conversion Ia. Rapidly grows the
change in her manne-Son- Eeh 81 sexs-
gcsiua Sunday, IS she acknowledges our
helplessness. On the next day in the Pa
rlfeation Of Saint Mary, the Virgin, she
bids US TO present ourselves before God
with pure and clean hearts. Then as we
approach the altar on the Sunday called
Quingusgesima We are told that "all our
doings without charity are nothing worth"
On Feb. 18th, Ash Wednesday, begins our
Lent, aad in no language can there be
found more solemn words than these !;
Turn thou US, o Good Lord, and so shall
we turned. Be favorable, o Lord. Be IA
vorable to thy people who turn TO Thee in
reeptng. fasting and praying. For Thou
art merciful God. Full of compassion,
long suffering and Of great pity. Thou
speakest when we deserve punishment,
and in Thy wrath thinkest upon mercy.
Spare Thy people, good Lord. Spare
them and let not thine heritage be brought
to confusion. Hear us, o Lord, for Thy
mercy is great. And after the multitude
OF Thy mercies look upon US. Through
the merits and mediation Of Thy Blessed
Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen" If
in sincerity this prayer can be said, what
sceeping, Jasting, praying soul may not have
the peace'of God, the Consciousness Of the
defeated Satan, and the ministry of his
guardian angel! But the Church would
not have you relax your weeping, fasting
and praying after Ash Wednesday. Each
day except Sunday is fast day and every
day must this prayer be said: Almighty
and Everlasting God, Who hatest nothing
that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the
sins Of all those who are penitent; create
and make in us new and contrite hearts,
that We, worthily lamenting our sins and
acknowledging our wretchedness, may OBJ
tain of Thee, the God of all mercy, per-
feet remission and forgiveness, through
Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen" I ask
you not 10 forget the 18th. Goth. and 21st
of Fcbruary-Ember Days-and the spe-
cial prayer appointed to be said for those
who shall be ordained 10 the sacred min
ist,y OF the Church. Do not omit the
prayer, Epistle and Gospel for St. Matthi-
ass Day-Feb'y 24-and the fervent pray
er March 26th, being the Annunciation Of
the Blessed Virgin Mary. II in Passion
Week you will read the lessons for each
day, and, on your knees, the Gospel on
Easter Day, your JOY will be full. This
the teaching of the Church, How she
would lead US TO the Lord! All, how
many make law for themselves during
Lent. Some presume that the Church is
too lax others, she is too severe. They
turn from the mother and would be fed by
strangers. Lent, for such, is wasted Eas-
ter brings no flowers to shed their fra
GRANGE on the barren altar of the heart /;
their souls are chaos, desolateness and emp
tiness, and no Supreme Voice has said,
"Let there be light !"
Ask for the old paths! Walk in them
They lead 10 the unsearchablc riches of
Christ, to the Easter Of the soul and . life
led with Christ in God.
SsrdgesimG Sunday.