The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-04-14
HOLY wEKx.-This is Holy Week il

HOLY wEEK.-This is Holy Week IL
the Catholic Church, and the observ
ances in the churches are very beautltu
and impressive. Holy Week is intended
especially to commemorate the mes
important epoch in our Saviors life-his
passion, death and burial.
On Wednesday, Thursday and FIlday
evenings Of this week, the office OF tn
Tenebrae (dsrkpess) is chaoted. Thi'
CONSISTS of the mathis aud lands for the
following mornings, which 1t Is ems
tomary to recite over night. During
the service large candlestick support
ing fifteen lights, arranged in form of a
triangle, which denote Christ and the
prophets, who predicted bis coming.
stands in the sanctuary; the lights are
one by one extinguished, until only the
upper one remains, which is taken down
and placed under the altar, until the
close of the Office, aud then brought
back; thia symbolizes Christ's burial
and resurrection.
On to-day, "Holy Thursday" two
hosts are consecrated, one of which Is
placed in a repository generally situa-
ted in some part Of the church distant
from the altar, and pious Catholics
spend the day in visiting the reposito
ries Of various churches and Offering up
their prayers before the consecrated
elements. These repositories are gen.
orally fitted up by the ladies Of tie
congregations, and are adorned with
diamonds, precious stones, flowers,
lights, and everything that wealth CAP
bestow on the occasion. In each
church, also, is kept up what is known
as the perpetual adoratiou," the priests
and acolytes relieving each other
throughout the whole night, remaining
on Bonded knees before the conse-
Grated host. After the intoning of the
Gloria in ercelsis on Holy Thursday, all
instrumental music ceases in the choir,
and the services thenceforth on this
day, on Good Friday, (to.morrow) and
until after the Kyrie Eleison has been
pronounced by the celebrant of the
mass on Holy Saturday (wheR the
Gloria is again intoHed), are carried on
with vocal music alone. Good Friday
is commemorative of the cruciGxion,
the special service of that day being the
alteration of the cross by both priest
and people-the former of whom pros
trate themselves before the crucified
image and remain for some minutes in
silent alteration of the Great Redeemer
whom it typifies. No mass is GEL
ebrated on this day (the only
one in the year on which it is
omitted), but the officiating
priests consumes the elements that were
corsecrated on Holy Thursday, and
which which have been in the reposi-
tory until removed therefrom by him.
This removal from the repository to the
altar, as we'll as the previous one from
the altar to the repository, is accom-
panied by q procession of priests and
acolytes, and while it is in progress the
choir sing tho hymn Verilla Regis. Holy
Saturday is commemorative of the en-.
tombment Of our Savior, and Easter
Sunday of his triumphant resurrection
from the dead. On Good Friday the
altar is stripped of all its adornments
and looks bare and desolate, the, door
Of the tabernacle is left open, typify-
ing the absence of the Holy Eucharist.
No organ peals forth its solemn strains;
no bell is rung; no joyous anthem as,
cends from choir or cbancel-every-
where appear indices Of spirit of
and lamentation. But on
Easter Sunday all is changed. Music,
lights, flowers, everything that can lndi
cate feelings uf ivy oud O 6'nA faith in
the great miracle of the resurrection Is
throughout the church. The
Easter services are peculiarly grand,
the music on the occasion being always
made special feature Of the religious
exercises. With Holy Saturday the sea.
son of Lent is closed.