The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1939-03-16
ORIGINS AND CUSTOMS
Or LENYEN SEASON
BY the Rev, Ernest w.
Denning, Methodist Churcl

DenIl1ng, WeCllOdlSt Churcn.
In order 10 better understand
this season of the church cal
endar known as LenI,lJ is We'll
to consider certain phases OF
the celebration.
Lent" is a word from the
Anglo-Saxon term lencten which
means 'Springtime." The word
is used 10 denote the period
of forty days preceding Easter.
Lent is a period observed IN the
Catholic church as a fast. This
custom OF fasting has a long
background running far back
into the past; one Of the earl
lest records of the custom was
recorded in 461 "A. D.
Ash Wednesday" is the first
day of Lent; this year it came
FEBRUARY 22nd. The name takes
its significance from the Jew
ish custom, which was to garb
oneself in rough sackcloJh and
sprinkle ones head with ashes.
On this day the priest, before
beginning mass, bleSseS a guam
tity of ashes made from the
palms blessed on the previous
Palm sunday.
Ashes on Forehead
Early Custom
The people approach the al
tar rails, and the ashes are
placed on the forehead of each
In the manner OF a small cross,
the act being accompanied by
the Latin words, meaning Re
member, man, that thou art
dust and unto dust thou shalt
return" This custom is first
definitely recorded in the chap
ter records of a church in Tou-
lon, dated TIA A. D.
"Mardi GraS" or Carnival" is
the day before Ash Wednesday,.
Carnival comes from the Lat
in through the Italian "carne-
vale" meaning farewell meat"
1t is applied to the season of
feaSting and merrymaking OBJ
served, especially in Italy, Spain
and France and in this country
in New Orleans, on Snrove
Tuesday. "Mardi Gras" is the
French for that day.
The English term shrove came
from Ito shrive," Or hear con-
LESSONS. The feaSting and mer-
rymaking connected with this
day is intended as an offset to
the gloomy forebodings which
the forty days of approaching
Lent are said to bring. Although
the whole carnival period lasts
from Epiphany January 9Th
the festival celebrating the Wis
it of the Magi of the East to
the child jesus to the eve of
Ash Wednesday, it is the last
three days, known as high car
nival, when the spirit of revelry
is supreme.
irresponsible Folly During
High Carnival
During high carnival, masked
jewellers, arrayed in whatever
garb fancy may suggest, par
ade the streets with music and
song giving themselves up 10
acts of irresponsible folly. Rome
has always been the recognized
home of carnival; but among
all the cities in which this reign
of abandoned merriment holds
sway, Venice stands unrivaled
for its scenes of picturesque
splendor and romantic pageant
ny such as are to be witnessed
by day or night on the Grand
Canal" (Quotation from the
Lincoln Library of Essential In
formation.D
During Lent, the law of fast
ing was early strictly enforced
and kept. Only the evening meal
was permitted each day. Many
relaxations and concessions were
allowed through the course of
succeeding centuries and in
modern days, the pope is accus-
toned to grant various dispen-
sations to tighten the burdens
of strict observation.
Flesh meat cannot be eaten
w Wednesdays and Fridays
throughout Lent, as we'll as the
days of Holy Week, except
Maundy Thursday. In the Uni
ted States, by special indult,
the Holy See grants that work.
men may use flesh meat once
a day throughout the year, eX-
cept on Fridays, Ash Wednesday,,
Holy Saturday, and during the
,:-; Ct