Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-08-13
LADY DAY OF MARCH.
IMPORTANT IN BOTH SECULAR AND
RELIGIOUS CALENDARS.
Why the 25th OF March Is Venerated In
England-What Happens II 1t Falls on
Easter-Seculariy Considered IL IL the


The 25th Of March Is an important
date both in the secular and religious
calendars. 1t is the first quarter day in
the year and as such comes home 10
most Of us who have before our eyes the
fear Of payment of rent or the rarer
pleasure Of receiving it. The pay DAYS
in England have been arbitrarily fixed
on Lady day Midsummer day, Michael
mas day and Christmas day. Why: No
body has been able to explain, unless il
be that, arriving, as they d., near the
end If each quarter, such important
days are better a. reminders of our duty
70 our landlord than any ordinary both
or Dist of the month would be likely TO
be-
But it Is, Of course, as one Of the
great festivals dedicated 10 the Virgin
tas its name, Lady day, or the old term,
Our Lady's day, implies) that it has
most importance being the anniversary
of the day when the angel Gabriel an
nounced 20 the Virgin the mystery Of
the incarnation. Four other dates in
the calendar share the honor Of this IL
tie-namely. Feb ?, or the Publication /;
July ,, or the Visitation, % commem-
crate the visit paid by the Virgin Mary
co her cousin Elizabeth instituted by
Pope Urban VI in 1881 Sept. s, or
the Nativity, and Dec. s, or the Con-
ceptiOn.
But the 25th Of March, or the An.
nunciation, Is most regarded, as II is
the anniversary, according 20 ST Au-
gustine, Of the great event % which it
owes its origin, and the institution Cf
this festival dates from very early times.
since ST. Athanasius makes mention of
IL in one Of his sermons. An order Of
the Patriarch Nicephorus having gwen
permission 20 break the fast Of Lent IL
the AnnunciatiOn happened 70 fall on
the Thursday or Friday IF Holy week,
a council convened at Toledo in 6j6 to
preserve the complete observance OF
Lent and ordered the transference Of the
holiday 70 the week preceding Christ
mas Some If the eastern churches still
follow this decree, but the Syrians have
fixed it on Dec and the Arncnians
on the 9TH Of January, while in the
Latin church il has resumed its old
place in the ecclesiastical calendar. In
the western church, if it should fall in
the Easter fortnight, its celebration IL
postponed until the second Monday fol.
lowing the festival
Lady day of March has always been
very highly observed in England The
synod OF Worcester, 1910 a. d., by ono
Of its canons forbade all scrvile work
upon it, and this was afterward con
fmed by various provincial and dioo.
esan councils in all respects except az
ricultural labor
In Rome, in the early part Of the cen.
fury, the day used T. bee celebrated with
great pomp and Spleudor We read that
the windows were hung with crimson
and yellow silk draperics and occupied
BY females in most gorgeous attire,
while the churches were patrolled 10y
the popc's horse guards i'm their SplCn-
did full dress uniforms, all Of whom
wore i'm their caps a sprig Of myrtle "a
a sign of rejoicing. Before the service a
procession appeared, preceded 10y anoth
en- detachment of the guards mounted
on black chargers, who rode forward to
clear the way % the sound Of trumpet
and the beating Of drums This martial
array was followed by n bareheaded
priest on a white mule, bearing the host
in a gold cup, at the sight Of which ev.