The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-02-24
ROMAN CATHOLIC
 OBSERVANCE OF
 LENTEN SEASON
LETTERS ISSUED BY BISHOP
 JOHN J. MILAN
Regulations as to Fasting, Abstinence DevOtiOns.-MissiOn Work
 For Negro and Indian.

Bishop John J. Milan of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hartford, has is- sued the following Lenten letter to those in his diocese:-
 Brethren:-The holy season of Lent will begin next Wednesday. On that day the church by simple but signi- hcant ceremony reminds us of the time when the spirit recalled by it's Lord will quit the body, leaving it helpless and lifeless to return to dust. She would thereby impress upon our mind that it is unreasonable and un- wise to give all care to the body to the neglect of the soul.
 The teaching and example of the early fathers, who retired from the world to the desert to spend their time in prayer and fasting, as well as the experience of right living men of all ages, proves that the soul is bene fitted by the regulation of the desires of the senses. When thus denied the full enjoyment of things innocent, our us to the enjoyment of that which is unlawful. The cravings of the flesh are blind. Reason must dominate them and rule them even at the cost of actual suffering. or they will lead us away from God. The man ruled by appetite is. according to the apos- tie, incapable of appreciating the things of God.
 Our Saviour gives us the same les son. At the beginning of his minis try-a ministry in which he was to show us the model of right living-he retired from the distractions of the city and lasted. It Is to commemorate this period spent by our Lord in the desert that the church makes Lent fast of forty days.
 In the early days of the church the faithfully observed the fast vigorously. Now vehy little penance in the way of abstinence from food is practiced. and some self-denial is not only ap- propriate but necessary; for self denial is but another name for that vigilance which our Lord tells Us is the price of salvation. Hence during Lent there should be for all of us more rec duties and devotions inseparable for a true Christian life. There should be, more earnest prayer. more family prayer, with the father as priest more talk of God, there should be none of those words of vile meaning which St. Paul declares unfit for Christian lips. no blasphemy. less frivolous and dangerous reading, less drinking.
 Here. we touch that obtrusive dis turber, who will break in on the sol emnity of the time with boisterous- ness, brawling and blaspheming. No one knows whether drink is his mas ter until he tries to abstain from it. Lent is a good time to make the test Without the excitement of intoxicants the mind will be better ground for the seed of the word of God and the will unhampefed may. with the help of di- vine grace. nurse it to fruitage.
 Therefore urge upon all as sub stitute for fasting to abstain during Lent from all intoxicating drinks. Health will not suffer by such self denial, the weaker brother will be edi- fled and God will be pleased.
 John J. Milan, Bishop.
 A letter from Bishop Milan to the clergy of the diocese gives the Lenten regulations as to fasting, abstinence, devotions and prayers.
 A third letter from the bishop to the clergymen announces that on Sunday, March 5, collection will be taken up in each church of the diocese. this first Sunday in Lent having been set aside as the day on which the Roman Catholics of the country should con- tribute to the fund for the support of missions among negroes and Indians