The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-05-03

again to the chapel of st. Helena above,
with its venerable pillars and beautiful
basket-work capitals, SO admirably rendered
in Roberts's famous drawing; then passing
to the scene of the clothing in the purple
robe and terrible crown of thorns, and so
ascending to the Mount of Calvary, to which
portion Of the. service plenary indulgence
is attached, while at the words, "Hic erptra-
rtt," the pilgrims PROSTATE themselves ut
the foot of the Cross then again descending
to the " stone Of unction," where the sacred
Body was washed; thence to the sepulchre,
where it was laid, on to the place in the
garden where He appeared to Mary Magda-
len after the resurrection, and SO back again
to the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin, where
the Office concludes with the touching Lit
any of LOretO. u4u t5f-st ,1
1t is beautiful and solemn service, in
which even Protestants are seen to join,
with unwOnted fervOr, and on this special
day, it was crowded to excess. When 1t
was over, the two friends returned to the
altar of St.. Mary Magdalen, the words and
tones of the hymn still lingering in their
hearts: 49,. ,,.,
"Jesu dulce refugium,
p Spes una TIE quHrentium,
i Per MagdAlenD meritum
Peccati solve debitum." ..t .,.
Presently tie English stranger rose, and,
approaching enc of the Franciscan monks,
begged for the benediction of her crucifix
and other sacred objects, according to the
short form inuse Mt the shrine of tho Holy
Sepulchre, a privilege kindly and cOur-
teously granted to her. And now the shades
Of evening are darkening the aisles of the
sacred building, and the pilgrims are gath
cred in close and serried mass in the
Chapel of Calvary, waiting for the ceremony
which is to close the solemn offices of that
awful day. By. the kindness of the Duke,
who had been their companion in the Via
1.,l
crowd, aud conducted by private staircase
from the Greek chapel to the right OF the
altar of Calvary. The whole is wrapped in
profound slarkHess, save where the light Is
thrown c!th ciiix the size OF life, erected
close to the fatal spot. You might have
muir and swaying to. and fro, of the dense
crowd kneeling on the floor of the chapel.
Presently IL Franciscan monk stepped for
ward, and, leaving his brethren prOstrate at
the foot of the altar, mounted on kind OF
estrada at the back, and proceeded to de-
tach the figure OF our Blessed Lord from the
cross. AS each nail was painfully drawn
out he held itup, exclaiming, Ecce, dulces
clavos!" exposing it at the same time to the
view of the multitude, who. breathless and
expectant, seemed riveted to the spot, with
their upturned faces fixed on the symbol
majestic stiffness and silence of that great
mass of human beings was one of the most
striking features of the whole scene. Pre-
sently q ladder was brought, and the sacred
figure lifted down, as in -Rubensl famous
picture of the I" Deposition" into the arms
of the monks at the foot of the. cross. As
the last nail was detached, and the head fell
forward as of q dead body, low deep cob
burst from the very souls Of the kneeling
crowd. Tenderly and reverently the Fran.
ciscan Fathers wrapped it in fine linen, and
placed it in the arms Of the Patriarch, who
kneeling received it, and carried it down to
the Holy Sepulchre, the procession chanting
the antiphon, I" Aceeperunt Joseph ct Nico-
demus corpus Jesn; ct igaverunt illud
linteis cum aromatibus, sicut mos est Judeis
sepelire." The crowd followed eagerly, yet
reverent1y, the body to its last resting place.
1t is representation which might certainly
be painful if not conducted throughout with
exceeding care. But done as it is at Jeru-
salem, it can but deepen in the minds of all
beholders the feelings Of intense reverence,
alteration, and awe with which they draw
near to the scene Of Christ's sufferings.