Evening journal., 1908-03-04
LENTEN SEASON
BEGINS TO-DAY
Catholics Have Ashes Placed
Upon Their FOreheadS
in Churches
IS SEASON OF PEN TENCE

Catholics. Eplscopalians and Lutherans
ushered in the Lenten season to-day. The
season comprises a fast Of 40 days pre-
ceding Easter. kept. after the example
Of Moses. ELIAS and above all. Christ
Himself in order to prepare the faithful
for the Easter feast. and also, OF course,
on account Of the general advantages TO
be derived from a long period Of PEN
ance. Catholics who have passed from
childhood and are in good health are
required to abstain to considerable de-
gree from the usual quantity OF food,
taking practically but one solid meal a
day and refraining from the customary
worldly amusements. BY virtue Of ccr-
tain indults from Rome. those who WORK
hard OF are In delicate health may OBJ
tain a dispensation from the extreme
rigidity Of the rule, but Of this the per
sons spiritual adviser is to be the Judge,
Those who cannot fast are expected to
make up for the dispensation in some
other way.
So many persons eat lightly at present
from motives Of health. not a few alb
staining from meat altogether that the
Lenten fast does not fall heavily uDon
them. with Others however, less inclined
to relinouish the pleasures of the table,
the season Of Lent. II they observe It, IN
the opinion Of medical men. is a valuable
tradition on practical grounds. Rest from
rich foods, late suppers and strenuous
amusements for six weeks Is a good thing
in the view Of the doctors. and helns 10
renew exhausted digestions and much
tried nerves.
In st. Andrews and st. Stephens
Churches there win be special services
during Lent. with sermons and music
In the Catholic churches there will be a
sermon and benediction on Tuesday even
ing Of each week. and the devotion known
as the way OF the cross on Friday even-
ings. No marriages are solemnlzed in
Lent, unless under very exceptional cir
cumstances. In fact. a Lenten marriage
IS regarded by everybody as unlucky
witness the proverb. Married in Lent
sure 10 repent" There is an additional
mass in the morning in all the churches,
and many persons go TO communion every
week.
To-day is Ash Wednesday. when ashes
are placed upon the foreheads OF th'
faithful both at a. m. and at the close
OF the evening mass. as reminder tina;
man was made OF dust and unto dust
must return.
At the close Of Lent comes the greai
season Of Holy Week with its sad OBJ
servances, and then Easter, when all re-
iolce at the resurrection.
At the MONDAY meeting in st. Andrew
| Church tomorrow the Rev. Stewart p
Keeling. OF Philadelphia, viii be th'
preacher. Keeling win be the speake
again on Friday.
Special services will be held in TRINITY
p. e. Church every Wednesday evening
during the penitential season.
Vicar General John A. Lyons conduete
the services and celebrated the mass 4
the Cathedral this morning, and distrl
buted the ashes. This evening the ashe
will again be distributed. The sermon to
night will be by the Rev. Father From
entin, Of the Saleslanum.
Services were conducted in the other
Roman Catholic, Churches, and the Pro
testant Episcopal churches had Ash Wed
nesday services at 1890 o'clock this morn
ing.