The Irish standard., 1903-02-28
The usual prohibition remains against

meal.
Where the wage-earler, in virtue Of
the indult uses meat, all the lnv:."1ers
OF the household may likewise use
ii. The Church does not Wish to i'm
pose upon the household the inconven-
fence of double cooking. But, in cases
of this kind, those members OF the
household who may he bound by the
precept Of fasting, are allowed the use
of meat only at their principal replst
The Sovereign pontift eXlorts all
who may make use of the privileges
OF the inlult to lie still mindful OF
their duty to practice self denial, and
he counsclS that instead of the absti-
llence from meat some other sacrifice OF
bodily comfort he lractice,l, the Sover-
eign Pontitf himself suggesting as
such sacrifice abstinence from intoXi-
eating drinks.
DAYS OF FAST AND ABSTINENCE
OUTSIDE THE l.ENTEN SEA
Other days of fast and abstinence
occurring during the year are the En-
Der days and the Nigils OF certain
festivals. The Emhcr days are: We'd
ncsday, Friday and Saturday, March
18th, 9th, It'll; Wednesday. Friday and
Saturday, June Sd. 9Th, 9th; Wedlles-
day, Friday and Saturday, September
10th, 18th, 10Th; Wednesday, Friday
and Saturday, December 10th, 18th,
18th. The Nigls are: The Vigil Of
Pentecost, Nay both; that of the AS
sumption, August l4th; that of All
Saints, october 3lst; and that of
Christmas, December oath.
All Fridays are, of course, days Of
abstinence. The abstinence which
formerly WAS obligatory on saturdays
has been dispensed with by Apostolic
favor to the faithful of the United
States.
The ponttic;ll Indult, of which we
have spoken, excerpts working PEG
pleA from the abstinence Oh Nigils and
Ember days, except when such NigilS
and Eml~r days fall OH Friday.
Pastors will make to their tiOckS in
the usual terms due announcements of
approaching Eml'er days and Vigls-
adding to such announcements II state
ment of the privileges given by the
lndult to working people"
GENERAL. REMARKS.
When Il doubt exists as to whether
ones condition OF circumstances allow
exemption from the preccms of fast
ing AMI abstinence, counsel should be
asked from cOlfessors or pastors who
are the authoritative interpreters of
the law, and who even are cmpowere
i'll special cases for good and sufficient
reasons, indicated or suggested in
Catholic theology, to commute the pre-
cepts of fasting ana abstinence to
other penitential works.
| In enjoining upon the faithful the
precepts Of fast and abstinence, Holy
Church is mindful of the evangelical
law of self-denial, of which the Savior
and his apostles were. by example and
by word most eminent teachers.
| Without self-denil there is no Christi
anity. Indeed, without sclf-dcnial
there is 10 natural morality. The man
who has not acquired by lmi,it the
power of sclf-restraint will not he vic
toriouS over sin amid the storms and
temptations of life which all are COM
PEELED to encounter.
The observance of the f;lStS and alb
stinence prescribed by the Church is
taken as a public and fearless profess.
sion of Catholic faith lie who. with
out sufficient on Obvious reasons, eats
meat or takes his usual meals when
abstinence or fast is cnionet becomes
an occasion of scandal, and is not &C.
cepted as a practical Catholic.
Let Catholics, therefore, have tic
courage of sclf-deni:l for the sake of
Christ and their own souls, and he oil
their guard lest by their acts scandal
he given, and the fair name of their
religion be dishonored.
During Lent pastors will hold spc-
cial exercises of devotion in their scv-
cral churches at appointed times. In
structiOns of 81 practical character up
OH the Christian duties, the nature of
the sacramentS, and the preparation
for their reception, should be given on
those occasions.
The devotion Of the Way of the
Cross will be observed. if at all pos
sible, in all churches and chapcls on
the Friday evenings throughout Lent.
JOHN IRELAND,
Archbishop Of St. Paul.
Whatver collection is taken up In
churches on Good Friday is, as usual,
according to Il letter Of the Holy
Father, to be applied in aid of the mis-
sions of Palestine
JOHN IRELAND.
st. Paul, February 10th, 1903.