From: http://books.google.com/books?id=u_UCAA ... iQGMi6WnCg
During the two thousand and more years, which
preceded the Deluge, men had no other food than the
fruits of the earth, and these were only got by the
toil of hard labour. But when God, as we have
already observed, mercifully shortened man's life, (
that so he might have less time and power for sin,) —
he permitted him to eat the flesh of animals, as
an additional nourishment in that state of deteriorated
strength. It was then, also, that Noah, guided
by a divine inspiration, extracted the juice of the
grape, which thus formed a second stay for human
debility.
Fasting, then, is the abstaining from such nourishments
as these, which were permitted for the support
of bodily strength. And firstly, it consisted
in abstinence from flesh-meat, because it is a food
that was given to man by God, out of condescension
to his weakness, and not as one absolutely essential
for the maintenance of life. Its privation, greater
or less according to the regulations of the Church, is
essential to the very notion of Fasting.
Thus, whilst
in many countries, the use of eggs, milk-meats, and
even of dripping and lard, is tolerated,—the abstaining
from flesh-meat is everywhere maintained, as
being essential to Fasting. For many centuries,
eggs and milk-meats were not allowed, because they
come under the class of animal food : even to this
day, they are forbidden in the Eastern Churches,
and are only allowed in the Latin Church by virtue
of an annual dispensation. The precept of abstaining
from flesh-meat is so essential to Lent, that even on
Sundays, when the Fasting is interrupted, Abstinence
is an obligation, binding even on those who are
dispensed from the fasts of the week, unless there
be a special dispensation granted for eating meat on
the Sundays.
...For several centuries,
abstinence from flesh-meat included likewise the
prohibition of every article of food that belonged to
what is called the animal kingdom, with the single
exception of Fish, which, on account of its cold nature,
as also for several mystical reasons, founded on the
Sacred Scriptures, was always permitted to be taken
by those who fasted. Every sort of milk-meat was
forbidden ; and, in Rome, even to this day, butter and
cheese are not permitted during Lent, except on those
days whereon permission to eat meat is granted.
Dating from the 9th century, the custom of eating milk-meats during Lent began to be prevalent in Western Europe, more especially in Germany and the northern countries. The Council of Kedlimburg, held in the 11th century, made an effort to put a stop to the practice as an abuse; but without effect. These Churches maintained, that they were in the right, and defended their custom by the dispensations, (though, in reality, only temporary ones,) granted them by several Sovereign Pontiffs: the dispute ended by their being left peaceably to enjoy what they claimed. The Churches of France resisted this innovation up to the 16th century; but in the 17th, they too yielded, and milk-meats were taken during Lent, throughout the whole Kingdom. As some reparation for this breach of ancient discipline, the City of Paris instituted a solemn rite, whereby she wished to signify her regret at being obliged to such a relaxation. On Quinquagesima Sunday, all the different Parishes went in procession to the Church of Notre Dame. The Dominicans, Franciscans, Carmelites, and Augustinians, took part in the procession. The Metropolitan Chapter, and the four Parishes that were subject to it, held, on the same day, a Station in the court-yard of the Palace, and sang an Anthem before the Relic of the True Cross, which was exposed in the Sainte Chapelle. These pious usages, which were intended to remind the people of the difference between the past and the present observance of Lent, continued to be practised till the Revolution.
But this grant for the eating milk-meats during Lent, did not include eggs. Here, the ancient discipline was maintained, at least this far,—that eggs were not allowed, save by a dispensation, which had to be renewed each year. In Rome, they are only allowed on days when Flesh-meat may be taken. In other places, they are allowed on some days, and on others, especially during Holy Week, are forbidden. Invariably do we find the Church, seeking, out of anxiety for the spiritual advantage of her Children, to maintain all she can of those penitential observances, whereby they may satisfy Divine Justice. It was with this intention, that Pope Benedict the Fourteenth, alarmed at the excessive facility wherewith dispensations were then obtained, renewed, by a solemn Constitution, (dated June 10, 1745,) the prohibition of eating fish and meat, at the same meal, on fasting days.
The same Pope, whose spirit of moderation has never been called in question, had no sooner ascended the Papal Throne, than he addressed an Encyclical Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic world, expressing his heartfelt grief at seeing the great relaxation that was introduced among the Faithful by indiscreet and unnecessary dispensations. The Letter is dated May 30th, 1741. We extract from it the following passage : "The observance of Lent is the very badge of the Christian warfare. By it, we prove ourselves not to be enemies of the Cross of Christ. By it, we avert the scourges of divine justice. By it we gain strength against the princes of darkness, for it shields us with heavenly help. Should mankind grow remiss in their observance of Lent, it would be a detriment to God's glory, a disgrace to the Catholic religion, and a danger to Christian souls. Neither can it be doubted, but that such negligence would become the source of misery to the world, of public calamity, and of private woe."
More than a hundred years have elapsed since this solemn warning of the Vicar of Christ was given to the world; and during that time, the relaxation, he inveighed against, has gone on gradually increasing. How few Christians do we meet, who are strict observers of Lent, even in its present mild form! The long list of general Dispensations granted, each year, by the Bishops to their flocks, would lead us to suppose that the immense majority of the Faithful would be scrupulously exact in the fulfilment of the Fasting and Abstinence still remaining; but is such the case? And, must there not result from this ever-growing spirit of immortification, a general effeminacy of character, which will lead, at last, to frightful social disorders ? The sad predictions of Pope Benedict the Fourteenth are but too truly verified. Those nations, among whose people the spirit and practice of penance are extinct, are heaping against themselves the wrath of God, and provoking his justice to destroy them by one or other of these scourges,— civil discord, or conquest.
http://books.google.com/books?id=u_UCAA ... iwHZyeWwCg
...Hunting, too, was for many ages considered as
forbidden during Lent;—the spirit of the holy season
was too sacred to admit such exciting and noisy sport.
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