The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-03-30
Holy Week.-PaIm Sunday and Roga.
finn nave

The portion Of tine Lent season which j
observed with more especial eeremonie
commenced with last Sunday. The stric
observance Of the wesk, which is styled
Holy Week, is confined to the Catholic and
Episcopal Churches. In the former the
ceremonies are Of the most impressive char
seter, and, when the ritual can be literally
adhered TO, are really magnificent. Last
Sunday instead Of the Gospel Of the day,
the Passion Of our Savior is read at the
mass, and the chanting of the "Glorie in
Excelss" is dispensed with. Atthe private
masses the palm is dressed, and bef-re the
commencement Of the parochial mass the
procession and distribution Of the palms
take place. There are then no extrsordi-
nary ceremonies, except the observance Of q
strict fast on Monday, Tuesday and Wednes-
day, (the Rogation days6 until Wednesday
evening, when the solemn service of the
Tenebra is performed. At this service,
which takes place during the twilighthours,
the clergymen and ecclesiastics attached to
the church, ranged on either side of the
sanctuary, chant the Psalms appropriate
to the occasion. At the left hand or Epistle
side Of the altar stands a triangular can
delabra, in which are placed lighted .apers
Of yellow wax, representing the prophets
and apostles, and one Of pure white wax,
representing the Redeemer. Al the end of
each chant Il Of the yellow lights is ex-
tinguished, and at q certain portion of the
service the white one is removed, but kept
lighted, behind the altar, and shortly after
replaced in the triangle. The e~xtinguish-
ing Of the yellow lights indicates the death
of the persons represented, and the tempo
rary removal of the White one tyIifes the
gloom cast over the Christian world for q
time by the death of Christ, and its replace
ment symbolizes His resurrection.
MAUSDY THURSDAY.
On Thursday Of Holy Week, called
Maundy Thursday, begin the services Of
Holy Week proper. During the recital of
the "Gloria in Exeelsis +" .the organ is played
and the sanctuary bell is rung, for the last
till the hymn on Holy Saturday. The
on the altar is veilei in white, but the
professional cross in purple. Immediately
after the mass, the celebrant, vested with
cope and veil, takes the Sacred Species used
at the mass from the tabernacle. A process
sion is then formed, at the head Of which
Of the ecclesiastics carries the process
5iOnal cross the members of the sodalities
others attached to the congregation Join
the procession, each holding g lighted ia
per and chanting in unison the PGHge Lin
ma, the thurifers swir ging their cencers
~incensing the Host carried by the off,
priest. The procession moves slowly
around the church and the eacred Species
IS fDally deposited in q sepulchre prepared
Or it in some part Of the church removed
rom the high altar, and there it remains
Until Good Friday, the tapers around being
Kept burning and a watch kept during the
night. In many of the churches in
his city the s%epulcbres are patterns of
beauty and magni6cence, as the ladies of
ZACH congregation vie with one another in
he display of gorgeous appointments and
arrangement. In the evening the Tene5ro
5 sung, thesame as the evening previous,
nd the watch at the sepulchre kept up
Until the ceremonies on
GOOD FRIDAY.
which consists of the %uncovering and the
at the cross and the procession
rom the sepulchre. The ceremony of IN
cling the cross is performed by the parish
who uncovers a small portion of the
ross at a time, and chants "EUce liguKm
rUcis," the assistants answering 'Flecta-
.us genua" After the cross has been en-
rely uncovered, the faithful approach in
and reverently kiss the head and
let Of the crucifx. When this portion of
ceremony is ended, a procession, SINH
r to that of the day previous, is formed at
lie sepulchre and proceeds to the high altar,
hen the Sacred Host is placed in the taber-
scle and the priest performs the concluding
of the mass. In the evening there :
generally q sermon on the Passion of our
and the hymn "Stabat mater is
lanted by the choir. The ceremonies on
HOLY SATURDAY 7
e the longest of the week. On this day =
e bishops bless the baptismal oils and :
lrism used in the ceremonies ofthe Church
lring the year and the priests bless the
cense, fire and water, used in the services
the church. The Paschal candle is also
essed and lighted the grains ofblessed
cense are placed in the candle in the form
a cross, and the candle placed at the Cos
side of the altar. The ceremonies at
ndant on Holy Saturday being concluded,
e priest begins the mass, and AZ the "Glo-
4 IN E1celSiS' the bells are rung and the
gan is intoned for the first time since
oily Thursday. The water blessed on Holy
.turday is called Easter water, and is be-
wed to possess extraordinary healing
,wers. With the close of Holy Saturday
the solemn season of Lent, and
EASTER WEEK
ushered in with every possible expression
10y and gladness at the resurrection Of
lrist, our Lord. Feasting is the order of
e day, aud a general rejoicing ensues.-
be ceremonies Of yesterday were celebra-
d with the usual solemnity as will be
of to-day, and tomorrow.
We are indebted to Ed. Willard, Union (
rect, for the N. Y. Ledger and Louisville I
i'd Cincinnati dailies.
We arc again under obligations to the
Express for late Eastern and South I
n papers.
Doctor