The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-02-15
How WE MUST. LIVE TN lent.
4 Rules For tho Observance Of That Pen
itcntiaI Period Which We
Should Follow.
TIE AMERICAN PEOPLE CONSIDERED

Archbishop Ireland's SpseIa, lnstruc
III lions on This Important
Question:.
Archbishop Ireland has just issued his
pastoral letter to the priests of the do
cese of st. Paul, instructing them as te
the Lenten regulations to be observed
by members of the Catholic church.
There is very little change from the
regulations of last year, except that they
are more .lenient and the days of fasting
are lessened in number. The letter Is
based on the recent bull from Rome
which was intended especially for the
members Of the American church. owing
to the abits, manners of diet and nerv-
! GUS force expended by :he American PEG.
1ple. The regulations are more lenien1
for muscle and brain workers than any
others The bull from Rome was based
on petition from the archbishops of the
United States, whose observation of Am
erican life and customs convinced them
that. the regulations were somewhat
too rigid. The USE Of meat once day on
fast days is permitted working men, per.
sons in i'll health and young men who
have not yet attained their 21st year.
This indult is intended to apply to
families Of workingmen as we'll Os to tbs
+ workingmen themselves. When the law
of fasting is announced every year from
the pulpit, special mention is to be made
of this indult. The sacred congregation
deemed it expedfent instead of granting
a general indult to the whole country, to
give each ordinary, for the space of IL
years, the power of permitting the use of
flesh meat, whenever he may judge that
persons are so circumstance that the
i local. conditions are such that there is a
real difficulty in observing the law of alb
stinence. The archbishop's letter is as
follows:
The Lenten season begins with Ash
Wednesday, occurring in this year of
grace on the 10Th of February and ex-
tends until the close of the holy week,
preceding Easter Sunday. Easter Sun
day occurring this year on the 5th Of
April.) All days Of the Lenten season,
Sundays excepted, are days of fast.
The faithful, unless legitimately ex-
cused or dispensed are bound in con-
science, under penalty OF grievous sin,
to observe the fast OF Lent.
The ecclesiastical law of fasting re-
stricts the taking of food to one meal
toward the middle of the day, and to a
collation. in the evening not exceeding
the fourth part of an ordinary meal, and
enjoins both for the meal and for the
collation., the abstaining from flesh meat,
eggs and white meats milk, butter and
cheese.) Theologians agree in allowing
for the collation. solid food to the amount
of eight ounces.)
EvnY,o tho IF hcto inf,
flesh meat are excused the young, under
the age Of years the sick and those who
are situated as not to be able to procure
for themselves abstinence food.
From the precept of fasting are ex-
cused those under the age Of Fl years or
over 60 the infrnl and the convalescent,
women bearing or nursing children,
those engaged in hard labor or other du-
ties exhaustive Of physical strength.
those who from poverty are unable to
procure for the principal repast a sutf-
cheney OF nutritive food.
Apostolic dispensations and prescrip-
lions of customs allowed to the faithful
In the United States the following priv
i1eges:
Flesh meat may be used by all the
faithful at the principal repast on the
Mondays, the Tuesdays, the Thursdays
and the Saturdays with the exception of
Saturday of ember week occurring this
scar on the 9Th OF February, and OF holy
Saturday Occurring on the fourth day Of
April; the Wednesdays and the Fridays
remaining as days of abstinence
Eggs and white meats (mik. butter
and cheese} may be used on all days of
Lent. whether at the principle meal or
at the collation..
A cup OF coffee, tea, chocolate or SINH
lar drink, with a morsei of bread, (the
whole amount of solid food not to exceed
two Ounces) may be taken in thu morn
ing.
When the meal of principal repast cam
not be taken without serious inconveni-
ence toward the middle Of the day. the
order OF the repasts may be reversed, the
meal being taken in the evening and the
collation. at a. previous hour. The use OF
lard, CT dripping, is permitted in the
preparation OF food.
Persons legitimately excused or dis
pensed from the precept OF fasting may
use flesh meat at all meals on whatever
days there is a general permission to use
1t at the principal repast.
When Il doubt exists as to whether
ones conditions or circumstances allow
and ahstaining, counsel should be asked
from confessors, or pastors, who are the
authoritative Interpreters OF the law
and are even empowered in special cases
for good and sufficient reasons indicated
or suggested in Catholic theology, to
communicate the precepts OF fasting and
abstaining into other penitential works.
The holy church, prudent in her moth
erly guidance of souls. while blessing
her children to avoid laxity in the OBJ
servance of her laws, has no desire TO
gifeaD unjookted i(d,ndei NJ ?oheht oobih
impose upon them burdens too Onerous
for their strength.
In addition to the privileges or dispen-
sations which have been enumerated,
there are special privileges which bish-
ops of the United States are allowed by
a recent pontiticial indult to grant in IA
vor of the working people. The indult
was given in response to a petition of the
American episcopate. In virtue of the
authority conceded to us by this indn,t,
permission is hereby given to the work
ing people among the faithful in the dio-
cese of st. Paul to use flesh meat on en-
Der days and vigils and on all days Of
Lent. excepting the Fridays throughout
the year, the eve OF Christmas, Ash We'd
nesday and Wednesday and Saturday OF
Holy week.
= The Lenten regulations are modified
by this indult SO as to allow the use Of
flesh meat to the working people, on all
WpfinQS6o nyoopt Acl, yyoJ :, =, y