St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-02-17

has been softened, Lent is still a
period of strict fast and abstinenqe,
a time of special modification, of ess
traordinary religious devotionS. ALI
though the ancient discipline has
been modified, relaxed to suit the
different ages and climates, the obs
legation of doing penance ever res
mains.
Lenten regulations may have
varied from century to century, from
country to country, but the great
duty of Christian self-denial has
always been the church's unchang-
ing message to humanity. Penance
is necessary always and everywhere.
Lent is time for it's special exercise.
With many people self-denial is
lost art. To them the idea of SUBJ
jecting themselves to the privatiori
of things to which they have a right
seems preposterous, even Supersti-
tious; but, after all, it is a very
Christian idea, as Christian as our
Savior's words can make it. To alb
stain from food, to deprive ones self
of things which are lawful and
agreeable may be hard, but the diff
ficulty of an ordinance is not an ar
gument that Christ does not sanction
it. He babe His followers deny
themselves and bear their crosses.
His religion imposes many hard
things. Self-denial is an element in
spiritual greatness
There is a close relation between
modification and perfection. A
pampered body is a hindrance to
spiritual advancement. Where self
denial exists, there progress is made
in the concerns Of the soul, but where
self-indulgence is, there spiritual
regreSS is the result The rugged
path to sanctity is not so inviting to
the evil propensities of the heart as
the broad and easy way. Few APP
precfate the heroism of self-denial.
Well has it been said that real glory
springs from the silent conquest of
ourselves, and without that the con-
queror is naught but the first slave"
Self-denial stands for manly cour-
age greater and grander than the
valor in memory of which nations
erect their imperishable monuments.
There are illustrious characters who
were masters in the various depart
ments of human activity, but slaves
to their own vicious tendencies.
There are heroes who were paragons
of courage against the enemies of
their country, but the veriest pol
troons or the silent battlefields of
their own hearts. To be able to con-
quer others is much, but to subdue'
ones self is the victory of victories.
Man who man would be must rule
the empire of HIMSELF
Although fasting is approved in
the New Testament, no fasting days
are specified The special times and
manner of complying with this ex-.
ercise have been determined by the
positive legislation of the church.
Were so irksome a task left to the
choice of each individual, it would
soon be neglected entirely. BY the
ecclesiastical law all who have COM
under a grave obligatio to observe,
Lent, unless there exist legitimate
causes of exemption. Among the
reasons which excuse from this pre-
cept are physical and moral inabil-
ity, weak health, eXhausting Iabors,
ETC. The classes of persons dis.
pensed from the observance of the
quadrag esirnal fast are designated
in the regulations yearly promulgat-
ed by the ordinary of each diocese.
With st. Ambrose, of the fourth CEN
fury, it must still be said that it is
mo light sim to break the fast of
Lent. People who use the forbid
den kinds of food do wrong, not be-
cause those meats are not as good
in Lent as at other times, not be-
cause those things are evil in them
selves. but for the reason that they
disobey the command of the church,
which is ChriSt's representative,
with power and authority to secure
the spiritual wellbeing of it's mem
bers.