Perth Amboy evening news., 1907-02-09
LENTEN REGULATIONS
ARRANGED BY BISHOP
Catholics and Protcstants VIII OBJ
serve the Season of Fasting-To
Begin Next Wednesday.

TRENTON, Feb. 9:-Next Wednes-
day, Ash Wednesday, marks the be-
ginning of Lent with its forty days OF
special significance, and Christians
/ generally are looking forward to the
coming of the season. Special SER
vices will be held in many of the
churches throughout the forty days.
The time represents the part of Christ
In the garden and is one of self-denial
and modification. 1t is brought to a
close with the glorious feast of Eas-
ter. Holy week is the last week of
the season.
Good Friday, which commentaries
the crucifixion of Christ, is the most
solemn day of the church year. The
gloom of Good Friday carries with II
a. suggestion of the joy and gladness
of Easter day So great Is the con
trast in the Significance of Good Fri
day and Easter that persons always
think of the latter day with visions OF
sunshine and blooming flowers.
The season is observed in a par
church. Special regulations to be fol-
lowed during that time have been pre-
pared by Bishop Jas. A. McFaul and
will be read Sunday at all masses in
the churches throughout the diocese
All the week days of Lent from Ash
Wednesday to Easter Sunday are fast
days of precept on one meal, with the
allowance of moderate collation. In
the evening.
The church excuses from the obli-
cation of fasting (but not of absti-
nence from flesh meat, except in spec
ial cases of sickness, the inf1rm, those
! who are attaining their growth, those
whose duties are of an exhausting or
| laborious character, women bearing
nursing infants and those who are
enfeebled by old age.
By authority of the holy see (Ind
August 3, 1897, for ten years, the
| following dispensations are granted
| for this diocese:
1.-The use of flesh meat is per-
mitted at every meal on the Sundays
of Lent, and at the principal meal
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Sat
| urday, with the exception of Ember
Saturday and Holy Saturday
1.-THE use of eggs and milk
butter, cheese and the like is allow
ed every day at the principal meal
and at the evening collation..
III.-A small piece of bread with
a cup of coffee, tea, chocolate or sim
ilar drink may be taken in the morn
ing.
IV.-When it is not convenient to
take the principal meal at noon it is
lawful to invert the order and take
the collation. in the morning and at
the dinner in the evening.
V.-Drippings and lard may be
used in the preparation of food.
VI.-On Sunday there is neither
| fast nor abstinence, put 1t is not al
| lowed to eat fish and flesh meat at
the same meal on any day during
Lent.
VII.-Those who are not obliged to
fast may partake of flesh meat at
| every meal on day when by special
indult flesh meat is permitted at the
principal meal.
VIII.-By special indult of the
Holy See, dated February 8, 1905.
the bishops of the United States are
empowered for ten years to dispense
from the common law of abstinence
/ when they judge it expedient. We
therefore permit working people, who
cannot easily abstain from flesh meat,
to use it once day on all abstinence
days throughout the year, with the
exception, however, of all Fridays,
Ash Wednesday,, Wednesday and Sat-
urday of holy week and the vigil of
Christmas.
This dispensation is granted to
working people and the members of
their families share in it, but it does
not exempt from fasting, where such
an obligation exists, nor does 1t per-
NIT the use of fish and flesh meat at
the same meal.
When the faithful avail themselves
of this indult they should perform
some penitential work as a substitute
for the dispensation enjoyed. A most
useful and commendable custom is
that of abstaining, especially during
Lent, from stimulants, in honor OF
the sacred thirst of our Divine Saw
iour.
IX.-The time for fulfilling the
Easter precept of communion in this
diocese extends from the first Sunday
in Lent to Trinity Sunday, inclusive.
All the faithful are exhorted to en-
ter into the spirit of the holy season,
which is a special time of prayer, sor-
row for sins. alms-giving and morti-
fication. Those particularly who can
not fast are recommended to make
suitable compensation by more lib
eral aims to the poor and other good
works.
BY order of the Right Reverend
Bishop.
JAMES J. POWERS,
Bishops House, Secretary.
Trenton, N. j., Feb. 6, A. D. 1907.
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Is news.