Cloth of Gold. _Crocus sulphureus._
Dedicated to _St. Sigifride_.
~February 16.~
_St. Onesimus._ _Sts. Elias, Jeremy, Isaias, Samuel, and Daniel_, A.
D. 309. _St. Juliana._ _St. Gregory X._ Pope, A. D. 1276. _St. Tanco_,
or _Tatta_, of Scotland, A. D. 815.
~Ash Wednesday.~
Holiday at the Public Offices; except the Stamps, Customs, and Excise.
This is the first day of Lent. It is called _Ash_ Wednesday, because in
the Roman catholic church the priest blesses ashes on this day, and puts
them on the heads of the people. These ashes are made of the branches of
brushwood or palms, consecrated the year before. The ashes are cleaned,
and dried, and sifted, fit for the purpose. After the priest has given
absolution to the people, he prays “Vouchsafe + to bless and sanctify +
these ashes--that whosoever shall sprinkle these ashes upon them for the
redemption of their sins, they may obtain health of body and protection
of soul,” &c. Prayers ended, the priest sprinkles the ashes with holy
water, and perfumes them thrice with incense, and the people coming to
him and kneeling, he puts ashes on their heads in the form of a cross
with other ceremonies.
Platina, a priest, and librarian to the Vatican, who wrote the lives of
the popes relates that Prochetus, archbishop of Geneva, being at Rome
on Ash Wednesday, he fell at the feet of pope Boniface VIII., who
blessed and gave out the ashes on that day, in order to be signed with
the blessed ashes as others had been. Thinking him to be his enemy,
instead of uttering the usual form, “Remember, O man, because thou art
dust, thou shalt return to dust,” &c., the pope parodied the form and
said “Remember thou art a Gibelline, and with the Gibellines thou shalt
return to ashes,” and then his holiness threw the ashes in the
archbishop’s eyes.
It is observed by Mr. Fosbroke that ladies wore friars’ girdles in Lent.
This gentleman quotes, from “Camden’s Remains,” that sir Thomas More,
finding his lady scolding her servants during Lent, endeavoured to
restrain her. “Tush, tush, my lord,” said she, “look, here is one step
to heavenward,” showing him a friar’s girdle. “I fear me,” said he,
“that one step, will not bring you up one step higher.” There are
various instances of belief in the virtues of garments that had been
worn by monks and friars; some of them almost surpassing belief.
Ash Wednesday is observed in the church of England by reading publicly
the curses denounced against impenitent sinners; to each malediction the
people being directed to utter, amen. Many who consider this as cursing
their neighbours, keep away from church on the occasion; which absence
from these motives Mr. Brand regards as “a folly and superstition worthy
of the after-midnight, the spirit-walking time of popery.” On this
eloquent remark, and Mr. Brand is seldom warmed to eloquence, it may be
observed, that persons far removed from superstition and who have never
approached “the valley of the shadow of popery,” deem the commination of
the “Common Prayer Book,” a departure from the christian dispensation,
and its injunctions of brotherly kindness.
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