The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-12
Observance of Penitential Gus
tom Started This Week.
True Practice Is Moral and
Physical Denial
FASTlNG FOR FORTY DAYS
Attendance at Various Re-
Iigious Services Required.
All Social Affairs Omitted Dur
ing This Season.
BY ELEANOR KIMBALL-

Tomorrow, February 49, will be the
first Sunday in Lent Last Wednes-
day was Ash-Wednesday. the first day
Of this penitential season The Tues
day preceding Ash Wednesday was
Shrovs Tuesday. so called from the
custom, before the Reformation, OF
STRIVING confessed penitents of their
sins in preparation OF the Lenten fast.
Ash-Wsdnesday derives its name
from the ancient customs. yet observed
IN the Greek and Roman Catholic
churches and in the rituaIistic Epis-
copaI churches, OF making the sign OF
the cross on the forehead Of members
in remembrance that man is but
ashes and earth. and thereto shall re-
turn
Lent. in its true conception. does not
mean merely denying oneself certain
foods. or abstainiug from gayeties.
These sacrifices but typify the great
sacrifice of Christ Crucified for man.
and the true Lent is the moral and
physical denial and fast.
The Lerteu season. observed in the
Roman Catholic Anglican and East
eru churches. is the period Of forty
days preceding Easter, exclusive of
in Lent, they are not Of Lent. and are
not fast days The forty days OF
the Lenten fast are supposed to be
observed in memory Of our Lords fast
ing in the wilderness The fast ends
at Easter, the most important day
in the Christian church year, COM
meuorating as II does, Christ's Resur-
rection and victory over death Easter
always falls on the first Sunday after
the first full moon, after the twenty
first Of March
First Observance OF Lent.
II is not known at just what time
the first observance of Lent took place,
Nrr- j. oh ~
time Of the Apostles It was recos-
niZed at the Council Of Nicaea in as.
In oIden days the Lenten fast was
observed with great strfcIness, peui-
tents sometimes fasting to the point of
starvation. thinking in this manner to
gain merit in the sight of Heaven
Self punishment was administered for
the same purpose, the cutting of the
body with knives and whipping with
leather whips often being parcticed.
Jackets of sackcloth or those woven
or coarse hair were worn, the more
deeply to impress the sinner with the
need for repentance.
self Denial for Forty Days.
While Lent now is observed less
harshIy, the spiritual significance is
in no way Iessened- Fasting and self
manded. md attendance at the various
religious services is required
All social affairs are supposed to be
omitted during this season of prayer
and fasting. and the mind occupied
with spiritual thoughts. to the excIu-
sion of all worldly ones This is in
preparation for the Easter services, the
Queen Feast of the church year.
The fourth Sunday in Lent is mid
Lent or MOthering Sunday. One au-
thorIty explains the latter appeIlation
by the statement that in former times
it was the custom for people to visit
their mother-church on mid-Lent
sunday. and to make their offerings.
at the high altar. Another claims the
name came from the custom of allow
ing servants to return home on this
day to visit their parents. young maid
servants especially being allowed this
privilege It is also called Refresh
ment Sunday. from the Gospel OF the
day. which treats OF the miraculous
feeding of the five thousand by the
Saviour.
The fifth Sunday is Passion Sunday
in comm of the suffering of
our Lord, and as also on that day He
first made open predictions OF His
coming agonies-
Palm sunday Is Sixth.
The sixth Sunday is Palm Sunday,
evidently so called from the custom.
in olden times, of carrying palm tree
boughs in imitation of those which
were thrown before Christ when he
=
in the Roman Catholic churches on
this day are burned. and these ashes
are saved and used to mark the fore
heads Of peuitents the next Ash-Wed
uesday. The Russians COT the Greek
church) have a very solemn procession
on Palm Sunday.
Holy Week is the week before
Easter. Thursday of this week IS
Mauudv or Commandment Thursday
and Friday is Good Friday, the day OF
Christ's crucifixiou- On these days
most solemn services are held The
three-hour service on Good trlaay
from L. until 3 O'Clock IS in memory
of the three hours Christ hung upon
the cross
The Lenten period ends with Holy
Saturday.
The spirit Of true Lent IS beautifully
expressed by Robert Herrick, the Eng
lish poet. in his Noble Numbers" pub
ushed in 164s:
TO Keep True Lent"
Is this n Fast. to keep
The Larder leane,
And cleane.
From tat of veaIes and sheep?
Is It to quit the dish
OF flesh. yet still
The PLATTER high with fish:
Is It to TASTE an houre.
Or rag'd to go,
Or show
A dowH-cast look and sovrs9
No. It's Fast 10 dole
Thy sheaf Of wheat.
And meat
Unto the hungry SoEie.
It Is TO fast from strife.
From old debate,
And hate:
To eireumeise thy Iifs-
To show heart ertef-rent;
To starve thy sin,
Noe bin;
And that's to keep thy Lent
For Ten Years