The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1918-02-16

LENTEN REGULATIONS.

LENTEN REGULATIONS.
Rules for Holy Season, Based on New
Canon Law, Are Announced.
The holy season of Lent was usher
ed in February 13 by Ash Wednesday,
the first of the forty days of penance
before Easter Sunday. In Catholic
churches ashes were blessed and dis
| tributed to penitents, as symbol of
repentance, custom which dates
from the earliest history of Christian
ity, and even ancient Jewish worship.
from the earliest history of Christian
Church the sprinkling of ashes was
observed not only without distinction,
but toward public sinners who had
submitted themselves to canonicaI
penance to obtain reconciliation with
the church. The bishop imposed on
them the obligation of wearing the
penitent garb of hair cloth and of
placing ashes on their heads, and they
| were excluded from the church until
Easter day. Meanwhile they must re-
main PROSTATE at the church porch,
imploring the prayers Of those who
entered the building.
The instructions for penance dur
}ing Lent are founded particularly up
on the gospel for Lent. On the first
| Sunday the church shows Christ fast
| ing in the desert, the second Sunday
is given over to promises of the after
life and the recompense of the truly
penitent, the third Sunday depicts the
toAo 80 a %hn
fourth Sunday Holy Communion is
held The series concludes with Pas
sion Sunday, Palm Sunday and Easter
Day.
The forty days of Lent are set aside
especially for fasting and abstinence,
but in legislating for this custom there
are many exceptions in the Catholic
Church. Incompatibility Of fasting
with the duties of ones life is con-
sidered, and the sick, the inirm, the
convalescent and persons over sixty
years of age are considered by the
law Of nature.
The new canon law has made a few
notable changes. 0neof these is the
regulation permitting the use of flesh
and fish at the same meal on all fast
days when meat is allowed, and an
other change is the announcement
that the fast of Lent concludes at
noon on Holy Saturday.
The Lenten regulations for 1918
are as follows for the archdioces of
New Orleans:
sThe holy season ofLent begins on
the 18th day of February, which is
Ash Wednesday.
every day of Lent, except Sum
days, is a fast day.
abstinence from flesh meat is to
be observed on all Fridays, on Ash
Wednesday, the ember days and the
morning Of Holy Saturday Both
fast and abstinence cease at noon A. on
Holy Saturday. sSs 5z.
A II persons over seven years Old
are bound to observe the law of abb
stinence from flesh meat.
All those that have completed their
twenty-first and not vet entered their
sixtieth year are obliged to fast, un-
less excused by feeble health, hard
work or other valid reasons.
.'Those that are obliged to fast can
take only one full meal day, about
midday. They are allowed to take in
the morning cup Of coffee, tea or
chocolate with little bread, and in
the evening collation., at which but
ter, milk and eggs are allowed.
''Those that cannot conveniently
take the full meal at noon can invert
the order, taking the full meal in the
evening and the collation. in the morn
ing or at noon.
"Those that are obliged to fast are
allowed to eat meat only once day,
at the full meal, on days when meat
is allowed, but those excused from
fasting can eat meat at all the meals
on those days.
sit is no longer forbidden to eat
flesh meat and fish at the same meal
on days when meat is alloWed.
nence to use lard or the fat Of any
animal in the preparation Of food.
"Soldiers and sailors in active SER
vice and their families staying with
them, are dispensed from the law of
abstinence, except on Ash Wednes-
day, Good Friday, the morning of
Holy Saturday and the vigil of Christ
mas.
"By special indult granted to us
by the Holy See we dispense the work
ingmen and their families from the
law of abstinence, except on Fridays,
Ash Wednesday, the morning of Holy
Saturday and the vigil Of Christmas.
But since the Lenten~season is essen
TALLY time Of penance, we would
earnestly urge those who avail them
selves of this indult to perform some
other acts of modification, such as
abstinence from Intoxicating drinks,
staying away from theatres and other
profane amusements.
"All the faithful who have at
tained the age of reason are bound to
receive Holy Communion during the
Pasehal time, which extends from the
first Sunday in Lent to Trinity Sun
day.
"Parents, tutors, confessors, teach
ers and pastors are strictly bound to
take all the measures necessary to
have the little one, arrived at the age
of reason, receive worthily the
Sacraments of Penance and the Holy
Eucharist.
stBy order of the Very Reverend
Administrator, S. Y.
~. j. BOUDREAUX, Chancellor"
w. S. S..
Save the Hens.
I II %lx1