The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-02-28

Early Original Time for SeIf-Rs-
straint and Charity.

Lent is the penitential season in
the Catholic Church. The word is de-
rived from the Anglo-Sexon 'lencten,"
which means spring, though there is
authority for it's derivation from "lenc-
gam" to lengthen, because the days
grow longer at this time. 1t is known
in the Liturgy as Quadragesima, which
is the Latin word for forty, meaning
the forty days fast which takes place
before Easter. 1t begins on Ash-Wed-
nesday and lasts until Easter Sunday.
The forty days, Sundays excluded,
which are not a part of Lent, COM
memorate the forty days fast of Our
Lord.
He did not, however, institute Lent;
neither did He order His followers to
fast, though He did prescribe rules
for fasting and on one occasion He
said His disciples would fast when the
Bridegroom, meaning Himself, would
be taken away from them. 1t is, there
fore, a purely ecclesiastical institution,
but so thoroughly in harmony with the
spirit of Christianity as to be insep-
arabic from it.
Like so many other customs OF the
Church, it's origin cannot be traced.
1t is certainly very old, probably dat
ing back to the time of the Apostles.
Early ecclesiastical writer's refer to it
as in existence for generations, and
consequently as we'll established fact.
ST. Ireneus, in the second century,
speaks of it as no new thing, but had
arisen long before in past genera
ton" This would seem to indicate
that it was known to the Apostles or
at least to the generations Immediately
succeeding them.
The Church has enacted various
laws and regulations governing the
Lenten practices. In doing so she has
no idea of injuring ones health. Her
sole desire is to induce her children
to do penance and bring the physical
being under the control of the spiritual
by discipline and proper management.
These effects are forcibly expressed In
the preface of the Mass for the peni-
tential season, namely, fasting re
strains vice, elevates the mind and
brings virtue and reward
Lent is not merely time for fast
ing and abstaining, in the strict sense
of these terms, but it is also a season
of prayer, penance and refraining from
worldly pleasures that may at other
times be permitted. Hence special re-
ligious services are held twice or
three times a week in most churches.
There is no excuse for non-attendance
at these exercises. 1t only requires
will to be present. All forms OF
amusements, receptions and the like
are entirely out of place. Instead of
worldly enjoyment it should be the
earnest effort of every Catholic to be
diligent in praying, eradicating vice
and cultivating the different forms OF
virtue.
1t is improper during Lent to attend
balls or parties, the theatre or other
places of amusement. These things
are distractions to the spiritual mind
ed and are to be avoided. In many
families even the simple pastimes OF
children are set aside. Besides ones
regular devotions, it is good to have
some particular devotion at this time
and to be unusually solicitous about
performing works of self-denial and
penance. This is the time to forgive
your enemies, to do good to those who
hate you, and to pray for those who
prosecute you 1t is the time to seeF
out the poor and to show special kind
ness to them. At this time we should
exercise more self-restraint thai
usual; we should be more patient anC
gentle, less given to anger, and shoult
bear our troubles with calmness ant
resignation. And the reward will b.
great. 1t will result in making TIN
soul better, nobler, purer and more il
harmony with the higher life.