The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-03-28
HOLY WEEK.
Tho Closing or the Lenisn scason-Re.
likious Services During tho week
Interesting Ceremonies ut the
Cathstirai-The Blessing or
Palms -Institution OF the
.Blesscd Sacrament,
ETC.. Etc.

BiosscG Sacrament,
Etc. Etc.
Tomorrow commences that portion of the
Lenten season known as Holy Week. in
which the Episcopal and Catholic
churches and German Lutheran commemo-
rate by appropriate services the last week
In the life Of the Saviour before his crucifix-
ion. as@
Services In the Episcopal Churches.
!. The" services in the Episcopal churches
during Holy Week will be in measure
similar to the services which have been held
heretofore during this season, and are as fol-
lows: Early service at A. III. in st. Pauls
church lecture.rcom. Also, at IL NJ. on
Monday at st. Marks; Tuesday ut Grace ;
"Wednesday at, the Monumental, and Thurs
day at St. Johns, at II 81. at each church.
Friday, being Good Friday, divine services
will be held in all Of the Episcopal churches
at IL A. NJ, aud at St. James's also al 3 P.
ID. On Saturday Caster eYen} services will
be held at II O'clock in ST. PauRsechurcA.
The Catholic Churches.
A brief mention Of the impressive cere-
monies and rites in the Catholic church will
be useful and interesting to those who will
witness them. @ - .
The first day Of Holy Week Is designated
In the Church calendar as 2',"S'
.... .. = PALM SUNDAY.
IL commentaries the triumphant entry of
| ChriSt from Bethany into Jerusalem, when
ne RODE on an ass and the people strewed
| tnelr garments and olive and palm branches
in his way. The serylcesa,of the dnv
consist in the benedietion OF, the palm or
olive branches,-or, when these cannot be
had, OF other suitable green branches-of
| the distribution Of these palms to the faith
full, and during the mass which fellows the
| history of the Passion, according to ST.
Matthew. is read. The beautiful and sienifi-
/ can't ceremony of blessing the, palms is OF
very ancient origin, dating certainly as far
back as the fourth century, and most proba-
IDLY to the apostolic age, and is conducted
IWith the most impressive solemnity, amid
ljoyous music and the singing of anthems .oi
praise. Palm Sunday is Sunday of the
| first class, on which solemn high mass Is eel.
ebratcd, the vestments used being violet.
MONDAY, TUESDAY, AND WEDNESDAY.
On Monday and Tuesday there are no spe.
| cial public offices. In the mass Of Tuesday
the Passion as described by st. Mark is
| read. On Wednesday the Passion accord.
| ing to st. Luke is read in the mass, and in
| the evening is sung in the churches that por.
tion of the divine office known as "the Of
fee of Tenebra," which derives its name oi
| Tenebrg, or Darkness, from the gradual ex'
tinction of the lights, which, in the end Of
| the service, causes total darkness, symbolica
of the death of Christ and the mourning oi
the Church. The nature Of the Office oi
Tenebra on Wednesday evening treats more
specially of the Last Supper, which vas
held on
! .' HOLY THURSDAY.
The offices of this day are among the most
| impressive of the Catholic ritual. But one
mass is said in each church, and at it the
other priests and the faithful communicate
At this mass two hosts are consecrated- one
to be used in the mass of the day the other
| is reserved in q chalice or precious vessel
and at the end Of mass is borne in procession
around the church to the RepoSsS or "Sepul
chre"-usually richly adorned altar, blazing
with lights and glowing with flowers. 1t will
be noticed that while the church has been at
tired in mourning and in gloom since Pas
sion Sunday, on this day, at the mass, The
cross is covered with white and white orna
ments are used on the altars. The Gloria
tn Ercelsts is also said amidst bursts Of IN
lultSlC auu IuC VI WIN
church bells, both of which remain silent
until the Gloria of the mass of Easter-eYe
to show by their silence the grief of the
Church at the betrayal of her Master. After
the deposition Of the presancti6ed Host in
the sepulchre, vespers: is said, the altar de-
spoiled of its ornaments, the tabernacle
thrown open, and everything bears the ap'
pearance of desolation.
, On this day, also, the ceremony of conse
Grating the oils used in the administration ol
the sacraments Of baptism, confirmation
holy orders and extreme JUNCTION. and in the
| benediction of the baptismal font, is per.
| formed during mass in the cathedral by the
Bishop. ."~
| 90. GOOD FRIDAY.
This, as the anniversary OF the betraya
and crucifiXtion of the Saviour, is a day o.
woe and mourning in the Church. The chief
service is the Mass Of the Presanctifed
Mysteries" In it the Passion is read, an(
prayers for all conditions of men are said
The cross is this day uncovered and ex
posed to the adoration-that is, the solemn
honoring By kissing-of the faithful, during
which the hymn Cruz FIdelts Is sung
After this the presanctiiied host is brough
back in procession from the sepulchre, and
portion of the prayers Of the mass appropri
ate to the communion is said.
i q, .. HOLY SATURDAY. ....s -s.
The services of Holy Saturday consist 0
the blessing Of new fire at the vestibuie o
ri the church; also the tive grains of incens,
which are inserted in the Paschal candle
and then the benediction OF the candle itself
The baptismal font is next best, and ther
follows the singing of the Littany of TIL
Saints, which serves as the Introit of tn,
mass. The Gloria is sung with great JOY
the bells unloosening their tongues and ring
i ing forth joyous peals, and the organ break
ing forth into its gladdest notes. At tn,
close Of the mass the yespers of the day ar
sung, in which the glorious " "Alleluas, ,
which tell of the resurrection Of the SayioH
and the triumph of the Church, are one
more sung in joy. -....
ST. PETERS CATHEDRAL.
The services ut st. Peters cathedral fol
the week will be Us follows:
i Palm Sur day: The palms will be blessed
at 10:l5 4. NJ, followed by high-mass. with
sermon. At night, at balf-past7 O'Clock
Bishop Gibbons will preach on "The Churcl
and Civil and Religious Liberty"
Holy Thursday: Pontitical high-mass at
O'Clock A. NJ, clergyman from each parish
T in the diocese assisting at the solemnity OF
the blessing of the holy oils. At halfpast
in the evening, night prayers, followed by ;
| sermon on the Holy Eucharist by Rev. Fa
ther McGuirk. of Lynchburg.
, Good Friday Morning service at 8 O'Clock
Stations Of the Cross at p. III. (the hour at
which our Lord expired on the cross), and a.
, holf nast in the evening"