The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-03-27
Palm Sunday.
It's Htstory-Hs Manner Of Celebration,


It's Htstory-Hs Manner Of Celebration.
On account of the number of holy
days which are included in the last
week of Lieut., the final seven days of
that are termed "Holy Week" Last
Sunday, its first day, is distinguished
as g Palm Sunday" because it is the
day on which is commemorated the
entrance of our Saviour into Jerusalem
just previous to His crucifixion, when,
as will be remembered, the people went
forth to meet Him, bearing palm leaves
in their hands, and crying Hosanna -
The ceremonies peculiar to the day had
their origin at an early period in the
history of the Church, and although
they have fallen into disuse in Protest
ant countries since the Reformation,
they are still maintained in those which
adhere to the Roman Catholic faith
In England, prior to the Reforma-
ton, the day universally observed, and
with numerous and peculiar ceremonies.
SO general, in fact, was its celebration
at that time that saying came into
common repute to the effect that he
who did not have in his hand palm
on Palm Sunday would have his hand
cut off
After the Reformation, although
many of the ceremonials peculiar to the
Romish Church were especially forbid
den, Henry VIII did not regard that of
bearing palms on Palm Sunday as OBJ
jcctionable. SO in 1886 he declared
that the ceremony was one that was
not to be condemned or dropped, and it
was faithfully observed by the clergy
until the reign Of his successor, Edward
vi. 1t was then left to the inclination
of the people, and soon ceased to be OBJ
/ served.
At the present day the city of Rome
on Palm Sunday is the scene of very
impressive ccremonials. Thousands of
! foreigners, many of whom are Protest
ants, assemble in the city to witness
them The space behind the high altar
of st. Peters Cathedral is carpeted and
draped, the affairs, pictures, and cruel
fixes likewise being put in mourning
BY O'Clock the spacious auditorium is
filled with an eager crowd, a passage
j through which is forced by one of the
Papal regiments. Then the Pope's
noble guard arrives, followed by the
/ diplomatic corps, and the dignitaries of
. the Church. who seat themselves be-
! hind the altar Thereupon the Chief
Sacristan enters with an armful of
bleached palms, which arc deposited
upon the altar At halfpast the en-
trance of the Pope is heraled by burst
of music from the choir, the soldiers
presenting arms. His Holiness is seat
! ed in the sedia gestatoria, or chair of
state, which is borne by twelve of his
officials. He is in plain attire, his
mitre being white and unornamcntcd.
| AS he is borne along, the Holy Father
grants 4 blessingto the bowling multi
tudc Arrived at the throne at the further
end of the church, he leaves the chair of
state, and altar singing and other pre-
liminary exercises, commences the con-
secretion of the palms by reading Ger
tain prayers and incensing them.
! And embroidered apron is then
placed over the Popes knees, prepare
| tory to the distribution of the palms
! The Cardinals first receive them, kiss
ing the branch, as well as the right
hand and knees of the Holy Father
Then come the bishops, who kiss the
palm and the Pope's right knee. The
mitred abbots and other ecclesiastics
follow, kissing the palm and the Pope's
foot. The distribution is then contin-
ued by the sacristans among the people
assembled, and the ceremony having
lasted about three hours, is concluded
by further prayers and chants. When
all is over, the Pope is again placed in
his chair of state, and carried back to
little chapel which is in communication
with his residence in the Vatican.
As but few of our readers other than
those connected with the Catholic
Church are conversant with the cere-
mony of blessing the palms, as it is now
performed in this country, we present
them with the following synopsis, Civ
ing the English version of the prayers
and chants -
After the sprinkling of holy water,
the choir sings Hosanna to the Son
of David! Blessed is he that cometh
in the name of the Lord. o King of
Israel! Hosanna in the highest
| The priest then says, THE Lord be
with you," the respondent exclaiming,
And with thy spirit" This is fol-
lowed by prayer, the sub-deacon then
singing lesson from the book of Ex-
odus, chapters XIV and xvi The Cos
pei according to ST. Matthew, chapter
XXI verses 10 is then sung by the
deacon, with the usual ceremonies,
after which the blessing of the palms
begins.
The priest stands at the epistle corner
of the altar, and says, "The Lord be
with you to which is responded, "and
with thy spirit t" Then follows pray
er, interrupted by responses, after
which the choir sings, Holy, holy,
holy is the Lord of Hosts. The heav-
ems and the earth are full of Thy glory.
Hosanna in the highest Blessed is
he that cometh in the name of the
Lord Hosanna in the highest!"
Then comes prayer, interrupted by
responses, and concluding as follows
BLESS, O Lord, we beseech Thee,
these branches of the palm tree and
grant that what Thy people this day
corporally perform for the honor of Thy
name, they may, with the greatest de.
votion, spiritually accomplish, by gain
ing victory over their enemy, and ar
IDENTIFY loving works of mercy"
At this point the priest sprinkles the
palms with holy water, and fumes them
with incense; after which another
prayer is offered. The palms being
thus blessed, the priest distributes
them to the clergyman in attendance
and to the people, who receive them
kneeling, and kissing the palm branch
and the hand of the priest. During
this distribution an Antiphon is sung,