The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-02-20
THE LENTEN SEASON.
The Origin and How it is Observed by
Large Body of Christians.

The Lenten season gets its English
name from the time of the year at which
it occurs; for, like the German lenz and
the Dutch lente-both meaning spring
"Lcnt'' is derived from the Anglo-Saxon
word lencten-a name given to spring
because then the days begin to lengthen.
Among the Latin nations, however. Lent
is called by names derived from quadrag-
esima, meaning forty, with reference 10
the duration of the season, the French,
for instance, calling it careme.
The observance by the Christian Church
Of such season can be traced back
practically to Apostolic days.
Irenas, born \ D. 100, and pupil OF
polvcarp, as the latter was of St. John,
when Primate of Gaul, wrote officially to
Victor, bishop Of Rome. concerning the
controversy then going OH both as to the
length and the nature Of the fast. land,
SAYS he, "this variety among the OBJ
servers (of the fasts) had not its origin
in our time, but long before in that OF our
predecessors Originally the length OF
the fast seems 10 have been forty hours,
as representing the interval between our
Lords death on the cross and his resur-
rcction and warrant for such fast was
found BY Turtullan in the words Of Christ,
"The DAYS will conc when the bridegroom
shall be taken away from them. and then
shall they fast in those days"
By the time of origin, say the middle of
the third century, the season had been
extended to forty days to correspond with
the season spent by the Lord, by Elijah,
and by Moses in fast.
But it was not until about the begin
ming of the seventh century that the
present rule for the regulation of the
length of Lent was generally adopted IN
the Western Church. according to which
the season begins on the forty-sixth day
before Easter, and the six intervening
SUNDAYS are excepted from the fast, and
retain their character as days of festival
gladncss, being, so to speak. weekly,
casters.
Two DAYS stand out of Lent with special
promnence-Ash-Wc Wednesday, the first
dav of Lent, so called in q general allusion
to the association of ashes with repen-
lance by the Old Testament prophets. and
Good Friday, which consummates Passion
Week-that is, the week which, begins
with the Sunday before Easter, commonly
called Palm Sunday in remembrance OF
our Lords triumphal entry in Jerusalem.
One of the most ancient homilies of the
Church of England, heartily approved by
the Protestant Episcopal Church in the
United States, in No. XXNN. of the
XXXIX. Articles Of Religion, very clearly
sets forth the benefits of the Lenton
fast:
s.Thore be three ends, vyhcreunto il our fast he
directed it is then work profitable to lis and and ac'
ceptible to God.
The first is to chasen the flesh that il be not too
wanton but tanned and brought into subsection TO the
spirit This respect had St Paul in his fast, when he
said ! chastise my body and bring it into subjec-
ton, lest by any means comeh to pass that when
have preached to others myself be found a cast
away.
The second, that the spirit may be more earnest
and fervent TO PRAYER To this end tasted the prophets
snd teachers that were at Antioch before they sent
forth Paul and Barnabas to preach The Gospel The
same two apostles tasted for the like purpose when
they commended TO God by their earnest prayers the
congregations that we're al Antioch Pisdia, lcouln'
and I.ystra, read in the Acts OF the Apostles
The third, that fast b. testimony and witness
with Us before God OF our humble submission to his
high majesty when We confess and acknowledge orr
sins unto him and inwaraly touched with sorrow
fitness Of heart, bewaling the same i'll tho aictiors
of bodies
The services in the Episcopal church
OH Ash " ednesday have their for key
note pentential confession to God q!
sins and humble petitions for his pardon
ing mercy and reviving grace. Proper
psalms appointed, the whole Of the Litany
is usually said, and there are special
prayers at the end of the Litany, in q
portion of which the people unite with
| the minister