The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-09
"SPY WEDNESDAY"

This day, Wednesday in Holy Week, or "Spy
Wednesday," as 1t is most generally known, will be
celebrated in the usual and customary manner in
every Christian nation of the world where the
rites of early Christendom are still wont to be re-
newed. In this city the cergymen of the various
Catholic and Episcopal churches will recte the ap-
propriate psalms which constitute the solemn
and impressive office of the "Tenebr@,''
the most attractive of which are the doeful
''Mserere" and sublime "Benedictus." In the
Paulist church, st. Patrick's Cathedral St. Francis
Xavier's Trinity and st. AIMS the ceremonies
will be highly interesting this afternoon and even
ing. The office OF "Tenebre" will commence at half
past three O'Clock in each and terminate at about
five O'Clock p. M. In the Paulist church and the
Church OF st. Alphonsus sermons will be preached
at hali-past seven in the evening.
sIGNIFICATIoN OF THE TENEBRAE.
The office of the "TenebrGn is so called from the
darkness Of the night in which it was at one time
celebrated in st. Peters and the Sstine Chapel at
Rome. The word itself means "darkness'' and is
more properly intended to convey to the religious
mind the approaching gloom prevalent at the
closing scenes OF the crucidxion. 1t is a highly
finished composition of exquisite beauty and ten
derness, performed by the organ and voices Of
the choir. generally in the soothing tones of the
grand Gregorian chant. It contains fifteen psalms
the antiphons OF which are sung alternately by the
choir and vii be repeated eacn evening success
sively during the week Saturday excepted).
ORIGIN OF THE s.MISERERE.o
Baini, the director of the Pontifcal choir in
note to his ellie OF Paestrina," observes that on
Holy Wednesday, 1919 (Pontificate OF Leo
Ky, the singers chanted the "Miserere'
in new and sunaccustomeG manner,
alternately singing the vespers In symphony. This
seems to be the origin of the "Mserere.n Various
other authors OF IL are mentioned, the most cee-
brated OF whom Is supposed to be GregoriO Allegri
Roman who entered the Papal College of Singers
in 1929. The compositions OF Baini, Bal (another
autnor) and Alegri are sung on the three success
slve days-the two latter sometimes blended to-
gether.
THE CEREMONY,
which takes place during the chanting of the
whole Office, Is both peculiar and interesting.
triangular candestick, upon which fifteen
candles, corresponding to the number OF psalms
recited, is placed at the epstle side Of the altar.
After each psalm one OF the candles is eXtnguished
by the master OF ceremonies and after the "Bene-
dlctns," the candle on the top is alone not extin
gushed but removed and concealed behind the
altar, ana brought out again at the end OF the SER
on the altar Also are extinguished, as well as
those above the rails. The custom OF concealing
the last and most elevated candle and of bringing
1t forward during the end OF the service is in al-
sion to the death and resurrection OF Christ whose
light 1t represents. In the same manner the other
candles cxtinguished may represent the prophets,
whose Lamentations" are recited, and who were
successfully put to death before their divine Lord.
These Lamentations" particularly that of the
prophet jeremiah, form some OF the most heart
touching and tear-ex portions of the Office