The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-03
CHURCH OF ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE.

Grand Ceremony Of Blessing the Palm.
The ceremony Of blessing the palm in tho Catholic
Church had its origin in q desire to commemorate
the entry OF our LORD Jesus into Jerusalem amid the
acclamatons Of the Jewish people. In the effort to
do honor to the founder Of Christianity the Catholic
Church invokes the aid OF her grandest and most
impressive ceremonies. All the charms of art and
music are laid under contribution to render the
homage OF creatures worthy Of acceptance by an
omnpotent God, Palm Sunday is also chosen by
Catholics day which to publicly exhibit their
faith in Christianity by wearing on their persons a
sprig OF palm or FIR. 1t is only, however, In Old
countries, where the Catholic religion has nourshed
long, that the
s0UL-swAYING PoMP
Of the Roman ritual is practised in all its magnin
cence. Perhaps the only church in New York where
an attempt Is made to follow, at an humble dis
lance the ritual OF European Catholicism that OF
the Paulist Fathers. themselves converts to the
Roman faith. This year every preparation had been
made for the ceremony, and the appearance Of the
interior OF the church was pleasing and impressive.
The white marble altar, which faces the princ
entrance, was tasIefully draped with purple cloth,
and between the
LIGHTED TAPERs
were placed large branches OF yellow palm. mel
low light, falling from partially stained windows,
threw softness over the scene, which was rather
O'Clock the bell which rung to prayer ceased tol!ing
and at the moment the boy choristers filed out
ions to to he Host took the place
them IN front OF the altar. These boys were habited
In purple soustanes, with white surpllce and small
bench OF Juvenile bishops These were followed
by the deacons, clad In black soustanes and white
surplce Five officiating priests, wearing
PURPLE AND GOLD
vestments came out last, and, placing themselves at
IN esDerstone aqus 6ened,ctG" Then ascending
the altar. the officiating priest-Rev. Father Hill
read PRAYER suitable to the occasion. AS soon as
he had ceased the boy chOristers intOned the mag
nlfcent Gregorlan anthem from the Dominica IN
Paints OF the Graduate Romanun, beginning,
HoSanna Ftlt0 Dactd AS the solemn notes rolled
from the organ and the voices OF the choir mingled
with the deep tones Of the instrument the spirit OF
another and higher world. There IS some
thing In
THE SOLEMN GRANDEUR
OF the GregOrian music which the SterneSt Puritan
must feel, and unless man be mai-clad with strong
influence OF Church music without feeling the mem.
cries OF innocent pleasures and guileess days RETURN
me anthem ended the priest reads short prayer
choir sing In slow and solemn time the beginning
OF the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. QaH remit In momtne
Domino slowly the voices swell upon the ear, and
sink until they are almost naudibe here the voices
or the boys. in sharp clear falsetto take up the dy
ing anthem Suddenly their clear, high notes are
drowned by the organ and the choir laundering
Outa
Amid this flood Of music we suddenly become
conscious oil the presence OF incense, and while
sers are swinging their perfumes heavenward our
spirits are waited into holy dreamland. The figures
moving about IN the smoke Of the incense seem to
lose their material essence and become transformed
and reverence seizes upon our souls and we listen
to the
WORKS OF BENRDICTION
to the questiOnless DEGREES Of fate Before this
enchantment OF the spirit doubts clears away, fOgs
before the SUM- cease to reason and ready to cry
out, 1--WE believe, Lord; help our unbelief" With
many genufecatlons and solemn motions OF hands
and with sprinkling Of byssop. the palm which has
brant. turning towards the deacon and sub-deacon,
breaks on branches OF palm. which he hands to eaeh
The assistants then mount the altar steps, two by
they kiss and retire The tableau presented by the
altar with its lights and decorations and the brtl-
waving green and yellow OF the palm leaves was
beautiful and effective. A little more OF the gloom
scene enchanting. How we miss the massive COL
Eotre Dame, with its Hood Of dim-cOiored
shadOw-lignt struggling through stained WINDOWS.
This age OF light despises shadow beauties because
the materlalized spirit OF man no longer compre.
During the distribution of the palm to the congre-
CATION youthful voices chant the anthem, Pue'f
Hebrgo1uni poytantes ramos OItUdi7tm ooUtarerunt
Domino. cdntdntes el dscentes-HOsdand in En-
celsis. Again the choir drowned their thin, youth
fu voices In q deep-toned. swelling, thunder0us
strains OF that wonderful anthem, the celebrant
turns to the people and says, Procedasus IN Pace.
To which the full choir responds, In N0nlfne
Chrtse, amen. The benedicton proper Is now at
an end and the triumphant
PROCESSION OF THE PALM
begins. priest bearing q branch Of the blessed
palm on a aast.ius crur, with sub.deacon on
either side carrying lighted tapcrs. marches at the
head followed by the dcacons and assistants after
these walk the priests, all bearing large branches
Of palm aud singing the anthem, C,911 dpprO.
down the aisle or the church and out into the
grounds, leaving the altar deserted. AS the dis
lance increased the chant came fainter and
fainter on the ear, until could only catch
at intervals the refrain. Then returning the
chant grew more and more distinct; now rising to
a loud chant then sinking and coming on the ear
ike the signing OF an E0lian harp touched by
gentle zephyr, and at last rolled III like wave or
harmony in the magnificent Gloria m ErceLsis
On the return of the procession to the church the
full choir chanted the GLORIA, tds Ell honor t6l sat
ReI Cl,lTste Redeniptor, which brought the ccre-
mony OF blessing the palm 10 a close.