The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-27

The Last Week Of Lent-Closing Ceremonies Of
the Holy Season-spy Wednesday, Holy
Thursday and Good Friday-The
Sanctuary Observanoes.

To-day and for the rest Of the week the whole
Christian world WILDE occupied more or less with
commemoration OF the death of Christ The name
by which the week is called and has been called
from the earliest ages designates the special holiness
Of this time. Since the establishment OF Protest.
antsm the seeded sects have not displayed, OF
course, the same
DEVOTION TO THE SPECIAL EVENTS
commem0rated as Is customary with the ancient
Church. for the reason, no doubt that, having be.
come more restricted In the extent OF their belief
they have also become less enabled to verge on the
broader domain OF Catholic faith. Hence 1t Is that
In the commemoration Of the passion OF the Saviour
the ancient Church enjoys almost monopoly.
There are no observances in the Church more
ancient or more generally adhered to than those Of
Holy Week. From the very earliest times The most
solemn ceremonies have been used In giving ex-
preston to sympathy with Christ's passion ana in
continuing to keep before the minds Of the faithful
the most striking and appealing occurrences imme-
diatey before His death. The change from the gen.
orally joyous celebrations OF ordinary services to
the
GLOOM AND MELANCHOLY sPLENDOR
OF Holy Week attracts In itself universal attention,
even irrespective OF all thought Of the sacred sym.
bols and ceremonies But with all the senses
appealed to, and every influence brought to bear
upon the Catholic mind the ceremonies OF these
days. fascinating even to unbelevers cannot fail to
produce eject. Recognizing tins, no doubt. there
y not village church anywhere wherein
curing tne HOLY week the pastor does not present
gregation and tell the history OF the passion. From
Rome to the remotest mission hut tine week Is tn
same meaning only one thing, cOmmemoraton
Of the Savi0ur's greatest sorrows, and teaching
HE Tha 'ne s Sa,v , ~ HOW WA, 40 nro.,o.a
ine 0e'emon'eS VI nV's so weeA' "S pi"'uSe"
are, as everybody Knows, OF world wide lame. and
Ttw 1o NJ" H nniv SSnSe ~ fh otn Tn Cb H nvT
wS Wy y, ~ Wy uuS
ni0nuTrs VI Ill uouo H us 1 Dua"S Meuhes.
SaS pntar, "y %"o rsoay ZIG ropT a'emus ~
bsnons nm All nars 9 ana pyess
Of ali orders assist and nep to sven the religions
81 are on
week. THESE services have 40 often been descrhed
that it is needless here to further aliude to them.
Everybody has heard OF the POpe's benedlctlon from
ment to the repository in one Of the chapes Of the
washing OF the feet OF thirteen priests by the Pope
wards: Of the exposition Of the wood Of the cross
and OF the lance that pierced the Saviours side; OF
tine d 1 s nno t az
mind.
Though Of 50 scale yet IN
country The Ceremonies of the week are carried out
with imposing ceremonial.
as occurs every year, the services will be apprO.
priately sombre The churches are all stripped OF
statues and other ornaments covered with purple.
The yesJments of the priests are of purple and nil
tine more low ul prayers and hymns Oi the masses
are omitted The music II any aT oil there be- is of
the most plaintive character. When sermons are
preached the subject Is sure to be ON the death of
Christ the evening OF Good Friday being especially
devoted to discourses by able preachers on this
subject This evening
THE .'TENEBR AL,
Will be sung in the Cathedral and In st. Stephens
church. a large number of priests being invited to
the Cathedral for the service, The tLamentatiOnsu
are an attractive feature OF the service Tney are
sung to some OF the saluest and sweetest music bv
the priests and are In harmony with the chants Of
the offlce OF which the service consists. Ti4 BIRD.
gress OF the mathis is denoted by extinQulshl ny one
OF the thirteen candles arranged on n trianTnIar
candiestick. prominently placed in The sancinary.
Tie candles represent orr Lord and inc twelve
Apostles On -r~-'rr aT' fse9.s
7VtF'''HF, 49, nov rurpsniv