The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-16

The ceremony of washing the feet of the poor
was likewise practieed by the soverelgns oil
England, and was even continued by them after
the establishment of the Anglican Church. The
ceremony was performed by Queen EllzaOetn IN
person, when in her thirty-ninth year, at the
palace of Greenwich, but not until after It had
first been performed by the yeomen of the laun-
dry and the sub bAlmoner. After washing each
foot the Queen, on this OCCASION made the sign
of the cross above the toes, aud then imprinted
upon il royal kiss. A distribution of money,
clothes, and catables folio wed this act of humli
iion. The last time that this ceremony was per.
formed in all its details by an English sovereign
was in the reign of James III. BY his successor,
King William, the ceremony was assigned to
the Lord High Almoner, who was frequently an
Archbishop and by him it was performed for
many years thereafter But the ceremony has
for long time past been discontinued, aud since
the accessession OF Queen Victoria even he
distribution OF provisions has been omitted, an
additional sum OF money being given in their
stead. In Austria, however, il is sand that the
rite Is still performed by the Emperor, with the
accompaniment of great solemnties.
The Ceremonies OF Maundy Thursday
ut kOme.
At Rome the ceremonies of Maundy Thursday
are still kept up with all the circumstance
attending them in the olden time.
The blessing of the oils, one of the principal
ceremonies, takes place during the perform
anCe of the mass at st. Peters, the Pope, or one
OF the bishops officiating. Three different kinds
of oils are then conseCrated. One is the oil of
cateChumens, used in baptism in the cOnseCra-
ton of churches and altars in the ordination of
priests, and In the coronation of sOveregus of
the Catholic faith; another is tnat used in adj
minsterng extreme JUNCTION to those who are
at the point of death; while the third Is called
the sacred Chrism, beng compounded of Oil and
the balm of Giead or of the West Indies, and Is
used in confirmation, in the consecrauon of
bishops, patens, and chalces, and in the blessing
OF bells. On this occasion, II is prescribed IN
the ritual that in addition to the customary
participants in the celebration of the mass,
there ghnll ne ont twelve nripstS
deacons, and seven sub-deacons, all of them
aTTayed in vestments of white. The oil for the
sick is brought i'll by subdeacon, and eXOr-
clsed and blessed by the bishop, who sits before
a table facing the altar. The mass then pro-
ceeds two deacons meanwhile bringing in the
balm and the oil tor the chrism and the cate
Chumens. The balm is first blessed by the
bishop, and then mixed with some oil; after
which the bishop and the twelve priests breathe
over the vessel containing the compound three
times, in the form OF Il cross The blessing fol.
lows, and then the bishop aud the twelve priests,
each in succession, salute the vessel three times,
saying, "HH holy Chrism," and afterwards
kiss it, In the same manner the OIL OF cate
chumens is consecratCd.
Another ceremonial is the slencing of the
bells in the SietIne Chapel. just after the sing
ing OF the Gloria IN ETceiSiS in the performance
OF the mass. From that moment until the sing
ing OF the same canticle OH The morning OF Holy
Saturday, all the bells in Rome are mute, save
at the Papal benediction. As substitute the
schools and hotels employ wooden clappers for
the customary signals.
The ceremony Of washing the feet is conducted
by the Pope i'll person, attired in plain white.
with red cope and small white skull-cap.
He also walks into the church. instead of being
carried, as ON Palm and Easter Sundays, as the
object of the ceremonies is to typify the humili-
alton OF our Saviour az the Last Supper. Ab )ut
one O'Clock, the general papal benGdiction is
pronounced from the balcony over the main
entrance to st. Peters. after which the Holy
Father proceeds to the northern transept of the
church, which is appropriately draped and en-
bellished for the occasion. As he is about to
seat himself in his chair of state, thirteen
bishops enter, dressed in white. with high caps
| Twelve of these represent the Apostles whose
feet were washed by Christ, and the thirteenth
an angel who is said to have appeared to Gre
CORY the Great while i'll the performance of
an act OF charity. These bishops are seated on
a high hench along the west wall OF the church,
and after the singing and the reading OF pas
sages of Scripture, the Pope proceeds to wash
their feet. His cope is replaced by an embroi-
dered apron, and towel is fastened to his waist
He then slightly washes and kisses the feet OF the
thirteen bishops, presenting each OF them alter
wards with a towel and nosegay. The Pope
then washes his hands, resumes his red cope
and is ready for the next act of humiliation.
This consists in his serving the thirteen bishops
at table in large room above the portlco. He
is assisted in this by several prelates, but with
his own hand helps them to the dishes and
pours out their water and wine.
Besides the washing of the feet of the thirteen
! bishops by the Pope in person, there is an
| establishment III one OF Jne HOsI pOpulOuS
| quarters of Rome called the Irjajtd de- PeHe-
| grjni, TO which are admitted, for a similar pur-
| pose, all poor persons coming from greater
distance than sixty miles, and who also bring
| with them a certificate from their bishop. The
| ceremony takes place on the evening OF Maundy
! Thursday the men being admitted to one apart
| ment and the women TO another; ladies OF dis
| tinction performing the act of humiliation in
| the latter, in the place of the gentlemen be-
longing to a certain charitable fraternity who
officiate in the former. Although the so-called
pilgrims who undergo this ceremony are gene.
the beggars in the streets OF Rome, it will be
observed by a spectator that their feet have
already been subjected to a cleansing process
and the ceremony is not quite so obnoxious to
sensitive person as it might otherwise be- The
operation is repeated again ON the evenings o
Good Friday and Holy Saturday, the pilgrim
meanwhile being Hospitality entertained, anC
dismissed at the end with small presents o
money.
noticeable feature of st. Peters on thi
day is the great number of priests sitting IL
confessionals and ready to grant absoluuOn tC
! all who come TO them. For the purpose O
granting absolutlon Ior those sins which arr
beyond the sphere of the ordinary confession
the grand Cardinal Penitentiary likewise sit
during the afternoon.
The ceremonies at the great Cathedral are
concluded with the chanting of the Miserere
the stripping of all the altars, and the extiu
gushing of the hundred lamps whcn uslalll
burn around the tomb of ST. Peter, when
The Observance of Maundy Thursday 4,
the city.
Maundy Thursday will be observed at tn
Cathedral in this city with all the solemnite
| attending il al Rome, as far as is possible. Tn
Right Rev. Bishop Wood will othclate in person
assisted by the twelve priests, seven deacon
c ! and seven sub-deacons as required by th
= I Tit A likewise q