The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-04
THE LENrEN FAST.

TIE rules which have just been issued by
the Roman Catholic Archbishop for the OBJ
servapce of the lenten fast are interesting
as denoling the gradual adjustment of the
church canons to the dictates of dietetic
science. Fasting was feature of all the
ancient religions: the Jews kept many fast
days. and it was from them that the early
Christians derived their original laws con-
corning fas.s. But among Hindoos, Egyp-
tians and Jews lasts were occasionally so
rigidIy kept as to impair the bodily vigor of
the faster, and TO stimulate the ceuyolu-
tons of the brain to morbid activity. 1t is
now known that If the supply of food con-
sumed by person leading an inactive life
falls below a daily allowance of two ounces
ofnitrogeneus matter half an ounce of fat
and eleven ounces of carbohydrates serious
trouble will ensue, and if the person is en-
gagged in work the amount must be proper
tionately increased. This scientific fact
was unknown to the ancient theologians.
and their fasts were consequently quite
often followed by bodily diseases and men,
tai disorder.
In the early ages of the church ''absti-
nence" was required during Lent and on
fast days, but the meaning of abstinence I"
was left TO the discretion of the local priests.
The ecclesiastical historian says: 1t is
plain the apostles left this matter free to
every ones own liberty ana choice, SO that
no one should be compelled to do good
thing out Of necessity and feat" 1t was
believed by the Synod of Toledo that the
eating of meat during Lent was a mortal
sin, but the Council Of Trent simply en-
joined the faithful to submit to church
authority on the subject. Until the dispen-
satiOn of 1887 the general rule of the Cath
Ole Church was that during Lent the faith
full should eat but one meal day, aud that
not of flesh. and that during the Sundays Of
Lent, on all Fridays which are not days Of
fasting, and on three or four Saints daS 5,
which are specified, flesh must not on any
account be eaten. and as far as possible
total abstinence from food must be prac-
ticed. The rules adopted by the Protestant
Episcopal Church at the Reformation did
moi depart widely from these, although the
number of fast days was reduced.
In 1887. by special dis pensation. the Pope
allowed Catholics to eat flesh at one meal
on every day in Lent. except on Wednes-
days, Fridays and two Saturdays; also to
eat butter, cheese. milk and eggs at lunch
every day. This rule has been still further
relaxed by allowing all persons engaged in
hard labor, the sick and the convalescent,
and persons who cannot fast without injury
to their health. to dispense with fasting
altogether and to adhere to their usual diet
throughout Lent. The evils which were
laid to the charge of the lenten fast have
thus been removed, and while the pious are
at liberty to eyinee their sense of religious
duty OF reducing their daily consumption of
aliment, those who are not minded to do SO
are under no obligation to follow their
example.
In considering fasts from n scientific
standpoint two points appear on the surface.
To be healthy an adult must take into bis
system in his food enough carbon and
nitrogen to offset the loss by excreton, and
this quantity is found, in an average of
cases, to be about two pounds of bread and
half pound of meat daily. Ii the meat be
cut OF the quantity OF bread will have to be
enormously increased to supply the neces-
sary nitrogen, which will load Up the sys-
TEN with al excess of carbon, and if the
bread be cut off, the supply Of meat re-
Quired to furnish the necessary carbon will
overload the system with nitrogen. 1t was
want of knowledge of the proportion to
be observed between these two necessary
facts for the human machine which led to
the mischief resulting from fasts.
For the rest almost everybody eats too
much and is the better for a little absti-
hence. Men have lived healthy lives on
one-haf what our idlers consume. Soldiers
have made long marches aud fought des-
perate battles on regimen which a dry
goods clerk would consider inadequate.
The stomach can handle so much nitrogen
Gus matter, SO much fat and so much of
one of the various carbohydrates. More is
surplusage, clogs the machine and en-
harnesses the excretory organs. Mankind
would be healthier and there would be less
disease if moderate abstinence were more
generally praetieed, especially in the spring
| season, when the blood runs quick