Lent Past And Present
Subtitle: a study of the primitive origin of Lent, its purpose and usages
Publisher: T. Whittaker
Published: 1898
Place of publication: New York, USA
Language: eng
Number of pages: 161
Table of contents: title: CONTENTS.; title: I.; title: THE PRIMITIVE ORIGIN OF LENT.; title: The variety of usages in regard to festivals and fasts. Study of their variation. The Lenten fast. Some of its names. Its early origin. Probable origin in the last years of the first century; reasonable certainty of its origin at the beginning of the second century. Origin traceable to St. John through Polycarp. Probable original length of the fast. Its gradual extension to thirty-six days and next to forty. Reasons therefor. Ash-Wednesday. Institution of the fast? Whether of divine, apostolical, or ecclesiastical appointment? Summary. Present day reasons for the fast.  13-35; title: II.; title: THE PRIMITIVE PURPOSE OF LENT.; title: Originally intended as a season of mourning for the death and burial of the Saviour. Next to revive the fast declining piety and devotion of Christians. This decline due to alliance of Church with State. Still another purpose to prepare the negligent and indifferent for the Easter Communion. Also a time for preparing catechumens *for baptism. Once more a time of special discipline for penitents who were expecting absolution in Holy Week. The likeness of the present day needs to those of the primitive Christians render necessary the continuance of the Lenten season.     39-58; title: III.; title: LENTEN OBSERVANCES.; title: Diversity of usage consistent with apostolic liberty. Difference of customs in the primitive Church in regard to observance of Easter. Reasons for variation of practices and usages in ante-Nicene period, due (a) to the Christian faith being proscribed, (b) to the consequent need of non-publicity, (c) to the lack of centralization and unity of organization, and (d) to the practical necessity of local self-government of the churches. Nicene Council a turning point in Church organization, and the nascent approximation to unity of usage. The Lenten usages — chiefly post-Nicene — considered under three heads. I. Ecclesiastical ; II. Civil ; III. Domestic. I. Ecclesiastical, (a) multiplied services, (b) increased celebrations, (c) prohibition of celebration of festivals of martyrs except they fall on Saturday and Sunday. II. Civil, (a) cessation of law business, (b) closing of the courts, ( c ) bodily punishments forbidden. III. Domestic. (a) fasting, (b) prohibition of birthday celebrations, and marriages, (c) abstinence from games, theatres, etc. Present day attitude to these early usages is to be manifested in an adaptation of the principles underlying these former observances to modern needs and environment. 61-86; title: IV.; title: FASTING.; title: Difference of opinion on the subject of fasting. This practice not exclusively Christian, but widely adopted among Orientals, Mohammedans, etc. Fasting during Lent in the early Church. I. Time, — how long daily, how many days weekly? II. Food — varieties, quality, quantity. Examples of the abuse of the spirit in observance of the letter. The principle of fasting in the early Church one of great elasticity. Its purpose twofold, in relation (a) to the individual, (b) to others. Patristic rebuke of the abuse of fasting. Modern application. No definite hard and fast rule possible. Need of wide allowance and adaptation to circumstances, climate, modes of life, etc. Fasting but a special application of the higher principle of abstinence.    89-112; title: V.; title: HOLY WEEK.; title: Special usages of this week. Names of this week. General observances of the week (a) greater strictness in self-denial, fasting, etc., (b) greater liberality in almsgiving [c) week of rest for servants, (d) a time for manumission of slaves, (e) courts closed, (f) prisoners liberated. Observances of certain days. Maundy Thursday, (a) its names, (b) the practice of feet-washing, (c) the institution of the Last Supper, and Evening Communion, (d) the public recitation of the Creed by catechumens for baptism, (e) the solemn ablutions of catechumens preliminary to baptism, (f) the absolution of penitents, (g) day for servants to receive the communion. The ancient usages not all of utility, or of practical application today. Advice of Gregory the Great to Augustine, first archbishop of Canterbury, in regard to the adaptation of diverse usages and rites to local needs.   115-135; title: VI.; title: HOLY WEEK.; title: Special usages continued. Good Friday, (a) Its names, (b) day kept with great solemnity, fasting and prayer, (c) day of general indulgence, (d) the practice of the administration of Holy Communion on this day — ancient and modern usage contrasted. The Great Sabbath (a) its names; its twofold aspect — of humiliation, of rejoicing [b) its Lenten aspect, strictness of fasting, etc., (c) this night kept as a vigil, (d) its joyful aspect ; the illuminations of this night, — their significance, (e) The special day for baptism — reasons for this practice. Summary of study. Two leading thoughts. 1st., Lent dependent on certain permanent principles, and 2d., The usages of Lent are (a) some of them only temporary and therefore may be disused, (b) some applicable to our modern life. The use and abuse of Lent. Use of Lent in two aspects (a) to the individual, (b) to the Church and world. Abuse of Lent. Its perfunctoriness; its lack of continuity with the past and future, etc. Closing exhortation.     139-161