Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1853-03-24

PASSION WEEK.-The week preceding
Easter is commonly known as Passion
Week, and the Sunday which begins this
week is called Palm Sunday. This year
Palm Sunday occurred on The 20,h of the
presen. month, and was, therefore, celebrated
by the Roman Catholics and Episcopalians
with appropriate ceremonies. 1t commence
rates The day of the Savour's uiumphan,
entry into jerusalem. As the people on
that occasion manifested their joy by cutting
down branches Of Palm and carrying them
in their hands, or srewng Them in the wav;
hence this festival, from very early period,
received the name of "Pslm Sunday" In
most Roman Catholic congregations, the
ancient custom Of distributing on ,ha, day
branches Of the Palm, or some other tree,
continues To be religiously observed.
Besides this ceremony on Palm Sunday,
there are other days in Holy Week which
are particularly devoted to the commemo-
ration of the history of the redemption by
the Catholic church. On Holy Thursday,
as it is called, (because on that day Christ
Instituted the sacramen. of The Holy Eucha-
rlst, which the Roman Catholics believe con-
tains the body and blood of Christ under
the appearance Of bread and wine, and also
because his passion or suffasings commenc-
ed on tina. day. Also, on Good Friday,
so called, because Chris, was on tina, day
Cruciied, and the work Of redemption con-
summs,cd. Also, on Hc,y Saturday, during
which the body lay in the Tomb On The
afternoons or evenings before each of these
days, The Catholic Church celebrates q
solemn service called the office OF the Te-
concludes. In the early ages Of the Church
il used to be celebrated at night, which Gus.
tom Is still practiced by some religious COM
munilies. This office consists of the usual
mathis Of the Roman Catholic Church,
somewhat altered in relation to the par,icu-
lar tine Of The year when this holy season
occurs. The mode Of celebration is as fol-
lows: A large, triangular candIeslick, the
base of The triangle being abou. three fee.
long, is brought into the church and placed
in The aisle in front of lie altar, and imme.
dialely outside The ratings of the sanctuary,
on pedestal OF about SIX feel in hight. In
each one Of the sides Of this triangle there
are seven sockets, and one on the top at The
meeting of the sides. In these are placed
fifteen lighted candles, to correspond with
The number Of psalms recied before the
M,serere. After each psalm one Of the
candles is ex.ingulshed, with the exception
Of the candle al the top Of The triangle, which
il taken away and concealed behind the altar.
The Benedictus then commences, and while
il is being sung all the candles in the church
are ex,inguished, causing a total darkness.
After q period Of few seconds the conceal
ed candle is brough, forth and placed in
lis former position, a, the top Of the triangle,
and the candles on the altar are again light
ed. The custom of concealing the last and
most elevated Of the candles in The triangle
behind the altar during the las, part Of the
and placing i. in its former position, is
NANTES. alusion TO the death and resurrec-
lion of our Saviour. This is The office of
the Tenebre, which is celebrated with so
much effec. in the Pope's chapel, at Rome,
during Holy week, and which is SO much
spoken of by travellers. The sa, ing (for no
organ or other musical ins.rumen! Is used)
of The lamentations of Jeremiah, which form
the lessons, as they are called, of the office
and The Miserere by the Pope's choir, is
considered TO be the highest character of
vocal music ever attained.
How TO WEIGH LIVE CATTLE.-This