The evening times., 1896-03-06
MAY PlR1AK[ OF MEAT
Fasting During Lent Has Been
Practically Abolished.
ANCIENT CUSTOM CHANGED
Not Only the Rich But the Poor Are
Now Relieved by a Recent Decree
of Pope LeO-Severe Discipline Prnc-
t.ced Among the Faithful During
the Early Days.
ANCIENT CUSTOM CHANGED

According to a decree recently issued
by the pope, and which has been promulgat-
ed here, the custom OF fasting during Lent
has been practically abolished in the Cath
| Ole church.
The official decree naming the regula-
tions for Lent for the archdiocese of Balti-
| more, in which Washington is included,
| contains the following:
by virtue OF an indult granted TO us
by the Holy See. March 10, 1885. we per
NIT to all workingmen and their families
| the use OF flesh meat once day on all
fast days and abstinence days throughout
the year, with the exception of Fridays,
Ash Wednesday, the Wednesday and Satur-
day OF Holy Week and the eve Of Christmas.
Those who are exempt from the obliga-
ton OF fasting are free to take meat more
than once on the days mentioned.
Those who avail themselves of this
fndult are not allowed to use flesh meat
and fish at the same meal, and they are
earnestly exhorted TO perform Some other
act OF modification, such as abstinence
from intoxicating liquors.
CHANGES HAVE BEEN FREQUENT.
This is by no means the first change that
has been made in the custom OF observing
Lent. During the course of time the rules
have been so modified that about all of
the severity of the olden days has been
done away with.
Forty years ago all days during this
season Were fast days on one meal, eX-
cept Sundays. when total abdstinence from
flesh-meat was required, except in such
dioceses where the presiding bishop or
archbishop granted dispensation.
ID 1887 the following indult was granted,
which, while modifying the custom to a
great extent, was by no means as lenient
as the one now made public:
by virtue Of an indult to the United
States, dated August 3, 1897, the follow
iDg special dispensauons are granted:
u. The use of flesh-meat is permitted
at all meals ON Sundays and once a da on
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Satur-
days, with th.-exception of the second and
last Saturdays OF Lent. But flesh-meat and
fish are not TO be used at the same meal dur
ing Lent, even on Sundays.
20. The use OF butter, cheese. milk and
eggs is also permitted every day in Lent.
''3. 1t is allowed to take in the morning
some warm liquid, as tea. coffee or thin
chocolate made with water, and with this
liquid a mouthful of bread.
"A. Those for whom the hour of noon
may be an inconvenient time for dinner
may invert the order and take their COLA
ton in the morning and their dinner in the
evening.
20. The use of hogs lard or dripping.
instead of butter. is authorized in prepar-
ing permitted food.
'6. Persons exempt from the obliga-
ton of fasting are free to take meat more
than once on those days when its use is
granted by dispensaJion."
SEVERITY OF FORMER OBSERVANCE.
During the reign OF Louis XIV such neces-
saries OF life as eggs, cheese, milk and but
ter were among the forbidden articles, and
as tea, coffee tobacco and other staples
were unknown, the forty-days fast must
must have been more than severe. In the
when the hours OF fasting were short
ened, and from that time on the tendency
toward leniency has been gradual but
sure.
The Penitentes OF New Mexico. a secret
organization under the ban of church and
state, still subject themselves to severe
physical punishment on Good Friday.
They believe that in doing this the sins
OF the past year are atOned for. 1t is
probable that this last relic of the middle
ages will ere many years be done away
with.