LENTEN PASTORAL FOR 1878,

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 251, 22 February 1878, Page 5

LENTEN PASTORAL FOR 1878,

PATRICK, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, AND FAVOUR OF THE HOLY SEE, BISHOP OF DUNEDIN.

to the clebgy and laity of said dlocese, health in the Loed and Benediction. Deably Beloved Bbethben, — The Holy .Season of Lent begins this year on the 6th March, Ash Wednesday, and ends on 21st April, Easter Sunday. At the end of this Pastoral you will find a schedule of the regulations for the fasfc and abstinence of this penitential time, which we have made in virtue of special faculties received from the Holy See, and after duly considering the circumstances of this Diocese. The fast of Lent does violence to corrupt human nature, which, leaves nothing undone, therefore, to discredit or evade it. It is a fast, however, as old as the Christian Church, aud was established after the example and on the model given by our Divine Redeemer Himself ; and is in itself most just and salutary. In the Apostolic times, the fast was much more strictly observed than it is now, for then the faithful partook of only one meagre meal in the twenty-four hours, whereas we are permitted to superadd a collation, or slight refection. It cannot be doubted that the Apostles imitated the example of their Divine Master ; it is instructive, therefore, to note what we read in the Acts of the Apostles, written by St. Luke, that they never undertook anything of importance without previously preparing themselves by prayer and fasting. (Acts c. xiii. v. 23., c. xiv. v. 24, c. xxvii. vv. 9, 21, 23.) We learn from the most ancient Christian writers that the lives of the Disciples and Apostles of our Lord might be said to be a continual fast. St. Gregory Nazianzen testifies that the food of St Peter was generally husks. From St. Clement, of Alexandria, we gather that St. Matthew lived on fruit, herbs, and legumes. Hegesippus relate? that the Apostle James, who is called the brother of our Lord, never drank wine or other strong drink, nor did he ever eat fish or flesh. We read in the works of Sts. Jerome and Epiphanius, that the first Christians of Alexandria? who had been instructed and governed immediately by the Apostles themselves, and who had imbibed their spirit, and followed their doctrine and discipline, never ate any other food than bread or herbs ; and there were some amongst them who used to abstain altogether from food for the space of six days, and that they did not eat or drink till after sunset each day. During the first ages, the faithful, with an unanimous consent, indicative of their faith and feryor, fasted every year forty days previous to the festival of Easter. This universal custom soon became the common law of the Church, which the Fathers, assembled in Councils, confirmed and enforced by express canons, in order to guard against relaxation, which might have so easily crept in on the cessation of persecution, and the establishment of peace and prosperity within the Church. - The most ancient writers after the Apostles assure us that the fist of Lent was observed by the Church of Christ from the very first : and they also inform us of the reason why the particular period of forty days was selected. Who is there that has not heard of the great St. Ignatius, whose martyrdom a few years after the death of St. John the Evangelist proved so glorious to the Church. He was a convert and disciple of St. John, and was appointed Bishop of Antioch by the directions of Sts. Peter and Paul. Than his authority, therefore, there can be none higher or more venerable. His words are, " The fast of Lent should be observed by the faithful, because it contains an imitation of the practice of the Lord." (Epis. ad Phillip.) St. Gregory Nazianzeu expresses the same idea. " Christ," he writes', "fasted immediately before he was tempted, but we fast before Easter He abstained altogether from food for forty days, which only a God could do ; but we have regulated our fast according to the measure of our strength." (Orat. in San Lavacrum.) According to St. Jerome, " The Lord fasted forty-days in the wilderness to give the model of our solemn fast." (In caput. 58 Isaise). St. Ambrose teaches, ''it is not the invention of human thought, but the command of the Divine Majesty." (Ep. ad Casula.) And his illustrious disciple, St. Augustine, explains these words when he says " The precept of Lent is partly of Divine Institution, partly of Ecclesiastical." Of Divine Institution, because God, both in the Old and New Testament, has frequently given this precept. " I see (he writes) that fasting is commanded in the Gospels, in the Apostolical writings, and in that entire instrument called the New Testament."Of Canonical or Ecclesiastical Institution, because the Church has selected forty days for a solemn and public fast, wherefore to fast at any time is a means to appease the anger of God, and satisfy for our sins ; but not to fast in the tfme of Lent, is to provoke God's anger by as many sins as there are breaches of the precept. To fast on other days is a remedy, not to fast in Lent is a sin. (St. Aug.) — The most ancient Councils of Nice, Carthage, and Laodicea, speak of it as a long established Institution, and St. Jerome calls it an Apostolical Tradition. " The forty days fast (says St. Augustine) has authority both in the Old Testament, from the fast of Moses and Elias, and' from the Gospel, because our Lord fasted as many days." These extracts from the Fathers have already intimated to us the motive of the precept of the Church regarding the fast of Lent. This motive is threefold, — Ist, that we may imitate the example of Christ who has told us to take up our cross and follow him ; 2nd, that we may be made sharers in the merits of his passion ; and 3rd, that -we may prepare ourselves for a worthy Easter Communion. But in order to animate ourselves to a faithful compliance with the regulations for the last of this holy penitential season, let us hare consider ; Ist, that fasting is commanded by our Divine Lord as we read in the Gospel (Matt. c. ix. v. 15), "And Jesus said to them : Can the children of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days wiil come when the bridegroom "shall be taken away from them, and then they shall fast. An when you fast be not as the hypocrites sad. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear unto men to. fast. Amen, I say to you, they have received

their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face, that thou appear not to men to fast, but to thy Father, who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee (Matt. c - yi- vv - !6, 17, 18) ; 2nd, that it is a most powerful meanß of subduing the rebellious flesh, and repressing its sinful motions ; of giving freedom to tie soul, and better disposing it for the contemplation of heavenly and eternal truths ; of averting the anger of God, provoked by our transgression of his laws ; of satisfying for our sins ; and lastly of drawing down on ourselves the choicest blessings of Heaven ; During this holy season, the Church calls upon her children to perform, as it were, common and public penance for the crimes and negligences committed during the year and their entire lives ; and by united fastings, prayers, and tears, to endeavour to appease the aw> 3»a w>3» • God> and avert tl)e effects of Ws wrath. The Holy Scriptures abt^ / in testimonies as to the wonderful effect of fasting in obtaining the pardon of sin, and drawing down the graces of God. At one time we see, as in the Ist book of Kings, that the Israelites, who had provoked God by their crimes, so appeased him by their fast, that he granted them a glorious victory over the Philistines. Then we behold the wicked, the impious Achab, who as soon as he humbles himself and fasts, appeases the anger of the Lord and obtains mercy. Again, there is the Royal Prophet, who smarting under the remorseful stings of a guilty conscience, and trembling under the chastening hand of Ood, has recourse to fasting, and by this means averts the evils that were imper ding over him. Ask the Jews how they were saved from the imminent calamities threatened by Holophernes, or the total destruction of their race by Araan; They will answer, they found no refuge from such terrible evils, but in the fasts recommended by the High Priest Eliachim and Queen Esther. Ask the Prophet Jonas how the Nmevites averted the utter ruin of their city, which God had commissioned him to announce— he will tell you, they and their city were spared by reason of the f Bst commanded to all by'their king. In fine, enquire of the Prophet Joel, what are they to do to expiate their sins, who are truly sorry for them— his answer is emphatic—'- Let them jom fasting t0 tears and sorrow f o r sin.', For this reason it was, St. .Basil declares, that repentance without fasting is imperfect, and generally useless. But fasting not only appeases the anger of God, averts the effects of his vengeance, and reconciles the sinner with his Judge, through the merits of Christ ; but through the same infinite merits obtains special favours for the just, and renders prayers more acceptable. Irayer (says Tobias, c. 12) is good with fasting." The Prophet Darnel is an illustrious instance of what fasting does for the just By tasting and prayer and confession of sin, he moved God to grant him the favour he had so earnestly desired—" I ate no desirable bread (he tells us) and neither flesh nor wine entered into my mouth, neither was I anointed with ointment : till the days of three weeks were accomplished." (c. x. v. 3.) And from the 12th verse, we learn how this penance was rewarded. An angel was sent to comfort him, who thus spoke— "Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that- thou didst sat thy heart to understand, to afflict thyself in the sight of God, tny words have been heard ; and I am come for thy words." On previous occasions we called your attention to the all-import-?i*i?^ stlon of e(3ucation > and urged on you the necessity of providing Catholic schools for Catholic children. It is consoling and encouraging to be able to bear witness to the docility and zeal with which you have responded to this call. Although comparatively few and poor, you hare established and maintained many excellent schools for both sexes at your own sole expense. But though much has been done, the work, it may with truth be said, has only commenced. Nothing like adequate provision for even the most elementary education of our children has yet been made. Renewed exertions, therefore, will be demanded of all ; and the faithful of this diocese will have to prepare themselves for great sacrifices, in order to hand down to their children the faith once delivered to the saints, and without which "ifc is impossible to please God."— Heb. xi. v. 6. You must trust in God and your own exertions alone ; from the (jrovemrnent you can expect nothing. The Government refuse us all ai 4-V "tI Governme nt schools in this diocese are godless and hostile to the Uatholic Church. Catholics cannot frequent them without exposing themselves to grievous dangers to their faith and morals. Of these schools, therefore, Catholics cannot avail themselves, except in cases of very great necessity, and when— such necessity being supposed—every possible precaution is taken to ward off all dangers to raith and morals. Parents and guardians should bear in mind that they arp. responsible for the children under their charge, and often reflect^hese words of the Apostle : "He that neglects his own, particularly those of his own household, has lost the faith, and has become worse than an infidel ;" and again on these words of our Dmne Master : "What will it avail a man to gain the whole world i ,,, own sou1 ' or what will a man S ive in exchange for his SOUI { We therefore most earnestly exhort air to exert themselves to establish and maintain efiicient Catholic schools wherever it is pos sible to do so ; and we call upon the clergy— who, indeed, have not been wanting in this matter— to exert themselves with the greatest zeal and perseverance in the great cause of Catholic education, .Nothing but Catholic education can save the rising generation from the baneful influence of the infidel systems of education so characteristic of this century and so fashionable in this colony. During this holy season pray for the conversion of sinners and unbelievers, pray that all may come to the knowledge of the truth, ' tnat there may be one fold and one Shepherd " (John xv. 16). Pra y also for our Holy Father, and the liberty and independence. ffi • nurcu 5 and that a merciful Providence may send us a sumcient number of good priests, and enable us to provide a Christian education for our children. ,m, " Tlie £ race of our Lord Jesus Christ be with 3'ou all. Amen," (Thess. last verse.) Given at Dunedin, ; fp. Moran. Feast of St. Agatha, 1878. The following are the regulations for Lent, which we make in . virtue of special faculties received from the Holy See ;—; —

Ist. We grant permission for the use -of Flesh Meat at dinne? only, on all Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and also on al 1 Saturdays, except one, that is, the second Saturday, during Lent. 2nd. Lard and dripping may be used after the manner of butter, at dinner, on all days of fast and abstinence during Lent, and also throughout the year, with the exception of ♦the first and last Wednesdays of Lent and Good 'Friday. 3rd. White meats — such as butter, milk, cheese, and eggs, are allowed on all days at dinner, with the exception of Ash Wednesday and the Wednesday and Friday of Holy Week, on which three days the ancient discipline of the Church is to be observed in all its rigor. 4th. Fish and Flesh are not allowed at the same meal during Lent. There is neither fast nor abstinence on Sundays in Lent. All who have completed their 21st year are bound to fast and abstain — unless excused by the state of their health or the nature of their employments — according to the regulations stated above, and all who have arrived at the use of reason, though not bound to fast before the completion of their 21st year, are nevertheless bound to abstain from the use of flesh meat on the days appointed — unless exempted for a legitimate cause, of which the respective Pastors are to be the judges. Subject to the above regulations, every day, except Sunday, in Lent, is a day of fast and abstinence. All who have arrived at the years of discretion are bound to go to communion within Easter time, which in this Diocese commences on Ash Wednesday and ends on the Octave of the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.

The clergy are requested to read this Pastoral from the several altars as soon as possible, and to cause a copy of it to be placed, during Lent, in a conspicuous place in their respective churches and chapels.