Norwich bulletin., 1920-02-16
LENTEN OPPORTUNITIES
 EXPLAINED BY FATHER cUNY

The most optimistic of all the preachers who have ever spoken from ! the pulpit of St. Patrick's church. one who never wearies of impressing his hearers with the duty and the privilege of serving the Lord with gladness," Rev. Peter J. Cuny, considered Lent as the season of opportunity in comment iAs at the 10.3d o'clock mass. Sunday upon the circular letter of instruction sent out by Bishop John J. Milan re- garding the obligations and observance of the coming forty days. As in for mer years, the bishop explains that the aged, sick and delicate are excused from abstinence and fasting, the very young, working people and their fam flies, soldiers and sailors in actual service, and others. from abstinence under certain conditions, obligations to be settled in most cases by a con- scientious interpretation of the rules The duty of -the great majority of i church attendants to observe both days of fasting and abstinence is ex- actly defined.
 While the laws appear less strict than in former years, principally due to recent eDidenics and the war and it's effects, Bishop Milan directs atten- 1 tion to the fact that the holy seas son of Lent is the period in which Catholics 1 should adopt that practice of rnortif- cation which St. Paul enjoins, in self abnegation patterning their lives the lrere diligently upon the life of the Saviour. Time ordinarily spent in 1 anu sements harmless enough in them 1 selves should now be diverted to devo- 1 ton to Gods service there should be more neighborly charity. a1nsdeeds. i and the effort to aid peoples and coun- 1 tries other than our own, while ren- l dering homage and service to that l God Who has so blessed us in home ] and country.
 ! The circular of the bishop was con- 1 sidered as to it's law and counsel by i the preacher. In the Catholic church i there is nothing indefnite-the Ten 1 Commandments and the command
 ments of the church read ever the 1 same-are always plainly expressed. |. l There is no mistaking the rules laid 1 down for the guidance of Catholics l throughout the coming Lent and having explicitly reviewed the bishops regulations. the preacher went on to 1 take up point by point the counsel as l to how to make the coming weeks of 1 self denial spiritually profitable. Here l in he emphasized the fact that each individual, and he alone, is responsible for his own soul. Christ has said plainly, do penance if you would be saved. The eagerness with which Catholics should try to make their
 
 | thought and word and deed to the life
 of the Saviour, particularly during this l penitential time, the devotion with which they should give themselves to i Gods service, should manifest greater ] charity toward their neishbor, making the Lenten season one of privilege and | opportunity, was the outstanding
 theme of the sermon. which. far from
 representing Lent as a time of gloom i and depression, proved it the divinely
 sent season which every Catholic
 should improve with renewed soul
 activity.
 1 The epistle for the day, ouinqua- gesima Sunday was I Cor xiii 1-13 St. PauPs admonition to charity .noi of the sounding brass and tinklins cymba1 type. The gospel was Luke , xviii. 31-43, the miracle of the res toration of the sight of the blind beg gar at the gates of Jericho.
 Owing to weather conditions and III ness in the parish, three low masse: were read Sunday and vespers wa! omitted.