PERPETUA TIDE. 



65 



MARCH 5. SS. Adrian and Eubulus, martyrs, 

 A.D. 309. 

 St. Kiaran or Kenerin, bishop and conf. 

 St. Roger, confessor, 1236. 

 St. Piran, in Cornwall. 



Ohs. We shall take occasion here to say something about Shrove 

 Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, and the Lenten Fast, which in certain 

 years now begins. Shrove Tuesday is also called Fastern's Een 

 and Pancake Tuesday. Shrove is the preterite of shrive, an anti- 

 quated word, which signifies to hear or make confession. On this 

 day it was formerly more usual than on the other days for the people 

 to confess, that they might be th* better prepared for the observation 

 of the ensuing season of penitence, and for receiving the Sacrament 

 at Easter. It was after the change of religion, when cruel sports 

 were substituted for old English customs of hospitality and religious 

 observance, converted into a day of idle sports and amusements ; 

 and within these few years in many parts of England its anniversary 

 was distinguished by riot and drunkenness, by bullbaiting, cock- 

 fighting, and such other diversions as were calculated to promote 

 cruelty and inhumanity. The Carnival commences from Twelfth 

 Day and holds till Lent. The Pancake Bell is still rung. 



Ash Wednesday and the observance of Lent are not of Apostolic 

 institution, nor was it known in the earlier ages of the Christian 

 church. This day was formerly called Caput Jejunii the Head of 

 the Fast, and Dies Cinerum or Ash Wednesday. The latter appel- 

 lation is derived from the discipline of the antient church in regard 

 to penitents, who on the first day of Lent had ashes thrown upon 

 them, and their heads covered with sackcloth. 



The Lenten Fast is an ordinance of the church in imitation of the 

 forty days in which Christ fasted in the wilderness : it seems ordained 

 by the wisdom of the antient fathers as a suitable penance, and is 

 calculated likewise to fit the mind for more intense meditation and 

 for mental exertion in general, to which the vegetable diet certainly 

 conduces. In the Catholic JMiscellany for 1827 will be found direc- 

 tions for keeping the Lenten Fast in the most wholesome way. In a 

 medical point of view the fast at this season of the year is very bene- 

 ficial, and the indulgence of meat on Sundays, Tuesdays, and 

 Thursdays, seems unnecessary. The Carmelites, the Trappists, 

 and some other severe Orders, live on vegetables and fruits all 

 the year round. 



Green Hellebore Hellehorus viridis flowers. 



This is the latest of our Hellebores, and is certainly the least 

 ornamental. 



G2 



