The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-13
LENT ALMOST UPON Us.
ALL GAYETY MUST BE PUT ASIDE
AFTAR WEDNEs DAY.

The Regulations Promulgated in the
Catholic Ohurches-ash Wednes-
days Interesting Services and What
Trey Signify-A Collection Next Sun
day for the Catholic Missions Among
the Indians snd Negroes.
The day after tomorrow will usher IN
, the Lenten season, which will put an end
to all social festivities for forty days among
Roman Catholics and Episcopalians and
turn their thoughts more sharply 10 reli-
gion.
he services in the catholic churches on
Ash Wednesday are especially interestin+
and instructive. Few Catholics, indeed,
fail to attend church on that day, unless
prevented by sickness or ONE other equally
as good cause. The office for Ash Wednes-
day opens with solemn ceremony, which
has given the day It's name.
After an introit and four collects Ia
which pardon and mercy are impiored for
the penitent, the faithful kneel a. the altar
rails while the priest puts ashes on the fore
head Of each saying Nemento homo, quad
pulUis eS, ct an pulUerem rereTteraS Ike
member, man. that thou art dust and shalt
return to dust. The ashes are obtained by
burning the palms of the previous year.
The Lenteu pastoral OF the bishops, regula-
ting the observance a. the season, usually
prescribe that the fast on Ash Wednesday
shall be more vigorously kept than on any
other day In Lent except the four last days
Of Holy week.
ASH WEDNESDAYS ORIGIN.
That Ash Wednesday did not come within
the quadragesimal period Is positive from
the testimony Of Gregory the Great, who,
L.. -. g &C. Fb1aa -
thirty-slx days duration-that is as extend
ing over six weeks from the first Sunday
of Lent to Easter day, emitting Sundays.
Thirty-six days being nearly a tenth Of the
year, by observing the fast Christians we're
thought to render a penitential 1.-THE of
their lives to God.
Lent, therefore, at the end Of the sixth
century began on the first Sunday, and it is
known from the Baoramentary of Gelasius
that the practice was the same at the end Of
the fifth century. At what time Ash
Wednesday and the three following days
were added TO the fast has not Ueen pres
cisely ascertained.
In the sacramentary of Pope Gregory
there is a mass for Ash Wednesday, under
the heading: "Ferid ", Caput JejlNiin
beginning OF the fast whence 1t might be
inferred that Pope Gregory, In spite Of the
words cited above, had himself before his
death sanctioned the alteration In question.
However, this may be, d capitulary of
the Church Of Toulon ola and the liturgi-
cal work Of Amaury about 800 describe the
Lenten usage as identical with that of the
present day. There can be no difficulty in I'M
Outstanding the motive of the change; TOR
by the addition of the four days preceding
the first Sunday the number of fasting days
before Easter, Sundays teing omitted, be-
comes exactly forty, and accords with the
fasts recorded of Moses and Elias, and with
that of the Savior in the wilderness of
Judea.
GEORGIA'S LENTEN REGULATIONS,
Bishop Becker yesterday promulgated
the following rules and regulations for the
Observance Of the Lenten period:
All the faithful who have completed their c1st
year are, unless leRitimately dispensed, bound
to observe the fast of Lent.
They are to make only one meal day, ex-
cepung Sundays.
The meal allowed on fast days is not to be
taken until about noon.
Flesh meat and fish are not to be used at the
same meal during Lent.
A small refreshment, commonly called COLA
ton, ia allowed in the evening, not to exceed
the Z urth part of an ordinary meal.
At the collation. il is permitted to use bread,
all kinds of fruits, salads aud 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 liquid, as tea, coffee,
or thin chocolate made with water and
mouthful of bread
Necessity and custom have authorized the use
OF hogs lard instead Of butter IN preparing
permitted food.
The following persons are exempted from the
obligation of fasting; Persons under q years
OF age, the sick, nursing women, those who are
obliged to do hard labor, all who through weak
ness cannot fast without great prejudice to their
health.
BY virtue of an indult granted TO the bishops
Of these provinces, under date Aug, J, 1887 the
use of flesh meat will be allowed at all meals
on Sundays and once day on Mondays, Tues
days, Thursdays and Saturdays, with the ex-
ception Of the second and last Saturdays of
Lent.
Persons dispensed from the obligation of fast.
ing on account Of tender or advanced age hard
labor or ill-health are free to take meat more
than once on those days when its use is granted
by dispensadon.
The faithful are reminded that besides the
obligation of fasting imposed by the church,
this holy season of Lent should be in an es-
pecial manner time of earnest prayer, of sor-
row Tor sin, OF secluslon from the world and its
emusements, and of generous alnsgiving.
The Paschal time extends from the first Sun
day of Lent till Trinity Sunday, during which
reason are bound to prepare themselves to re-
celve worthily holy communion. TIE seas on #
Lent is proper time, also, for children to 20 to
their first confession, which they ought to do
generally when about years of age. Parents
and teachers should see to this.
By command OF the third plenary coun-
Gil of Baltimore a collection is to be taken
up in all the churches on the first Sunday of
Lent for the missions among the Indians
and colored people.
Every Wedues lay night sermon will be
preached in the Catholic churches, and Fri
day nights there will be services of the
stations OF the cross and benediction.