Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-03-03
Lent Begins

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FEBRUARY LETT us in penitent tears
this year. as on its last day fell Ash
Wednesday, usnerlng in Lent. The name
Ash Wednesday refers in a general fash
ion TO the sackcloth and ashes universally
worn by Old Testament penitents, but
more particularly to the old custom of the
church of Rome of the priests making
the sign of the cross on the foreheads OF
the faithful on Ash Wednesday morning
with the ashes from the palm branches
blessed al the service on Palm Sunday the
year before. ..
There is evidence that the Lent of the
early church varied in length at different
times, although it never exceeded thirty
SIX DAYS. CaSsian A. D., 42o, says some
churches kept their Lent six and others
seven weeks. Sundays were always de-
ducted,a and in the case Of the seven weeks,
fast Saturdays, except Easter Even.
Ash Wednesday was not always the be-
ginning Of Lent. The Sunday following
was the first day during the fifth and sixth
centuries. This middle Lent made Lent
but thirty-six days, as the Sundays were
omitted. The exact time when Ash We'd
nesday and the three succeeding DAYS
were added is not known. but before ia
is sure, because a noted ecclesiastical
writer of Toulon describes the Lenten fast
OF that date can readily be seen. as it
makes forty days. Sundays are always
omitted in Lent and are termed Sundays
OF Lent instead OF in Lent Sunday being
a feast day instead of fast day), without
the Sundays, just the length of the fasts
of Moses, Elias and Our Saviour.
A last has been observed in all times
just previous to the resurrection, but not
until $40 was Lent definitely fixed, for all
Catholic Christendom, from Ash Wednes-
day to Holy Saturday. The word is de-
rived from the Anglo-Saxon word mean
ing spring.
Lent is now observed as obligatory by
the Orthodox Greek and other Oriental
churches, the Roman Catholic, the Angl-
can and Lutheran churches, and as
profitable exercise by many members OF
churches of other denominations.
In Medieval times the name Lent was
given to other periods OF fasting. For
instance, the 40 days between Martinmas.
November nth, and Christmas eve were
called S.. Martins Lent, while still anoth-
er Lent preceded ST. John the Baptist's
day, June 24th. To distinguish the for
mer from the latter the fasting season
between Ash Wednesday and Easter day
was called the Great or Clean Lent, the
last name being given on account of the
absolution and confession of Shrove
Tuesday, which preceded it. Extreme
strictness OF diet was required by the
early Church during Lent, but now the
Anglican Church observes Lent in very
much more modified form than formere-
ly. while even in Rome in Lent there is
much to interest and amuse.
Spanish countries had an old custom OF
representing Lent as an old woman.
AN OLD CUSTOM.
In Naples an old popular custom still
survives, though not to the extent it once
did, that is the making Of an efiigy OF
Lent, called the "Quaresima" Lent,
small rag doll dressed in black. with a
white head-dress. A distaf heavily laden
with flax and spindle are placed in her
hands, while stick stuck into an orange
was substituted for legs. Seven quilts, to
denote the seven weeks OF Lent, are stuck
in the orange. An osier loop is hung be-
low the orange, to which are hung SAM
pies of the different foods permissible in
Lent, and two small bottles. one contain
ing wine and one spirits. The Quaresima
is hung out the window on Ash We'd
nesday, or very often suspended from the
centre Of rope, that is stretched across
the street from the second story windows
of the opposite houses. Every Saturday
during Lent one quill is pulled out amid
great rejoicing. On Holy Saturday the
figure is taken down and laid on a pyre.
Gun-powder is placed under the now much
weather-bea gown, and the pyre is lit.
AS the figure flies blazing in the air squibs
and crackers are set off amid great re-
joicing that the fast is almost over, and
confectionery and sweets give taste of
the near approaching feast time.