The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-21
PALM SUNDAY.


PALM SUNDAY.
CONFEDERATION OF THE TRruMPHAL ENTRY on
THE REpEEMER INTO JERUsALEM-cHuRcl
SERVICES DURING HOLY WEEK
The last week OF the penitenrial season OF Lent
begins today, and the Christian Church puts OF
robes or the deepest N burning In commem grafton
OF the passion and death OF her Divine Founder.
On this day the Church solemny celebrates the
triumphal entry into Jerusalem which our Saviour
made, IN an humble garb. riding on an ass, thus
fulfilling the prophecy OF Zacharlas. The blessing
and distribution OF the palms Is the principal fca-
ture OF the Catholic service and the procession
which takes place before the celebration OF masx
represents the entry into Jerusalem. At the Cos
pei the history OF the passion OF our Saviour &C.
cording to st. Matthew Is read. On Monday the
Gospel that Is read consists Of the history OF tho
raising Of Lazarus to life, although this event
TOOK place previous to the entry into Jerusalem.
yet ON that occasion our Saviour spoke OF His
burial being close ct hand. On Tuesday tho Pas
sion according to st. Mark is read, on Wednesday
according to 81. Luke and on Friday according to
st. John. On Wednesday, Thursday ana Friday
evenings the beautiful ONCE OF Tenebra dark.
ness from the darkening OF the churches) ts
chsnted. Those public prayers which are termed
the Divine ONCE are said to be Instituted by apos-
toic tradition and form a religious exercise Of
great antiquity It Is said that In ancient times
the faithful were In the habit OF assembling in
choir at several different hours to give praise "a
God, ana thus originated the "canonicaW hours.
THE TRNEBRAE.
The most celebrated and religiously observed
OF these among the primitive Christians were
Nocturns, or Teuebre, which name came from the
fact Of their rising in the depth OF the night to
sing psalms. Afterward this mldni light ONCE was
transferred to the vesper hour OF the preceding
day. Hence the Office Of the Tenebra on Wednes-
day evening is really the mathis and lauds for tue
following morning During this once largo
triangular candlestick Is placed In front
OF the altar, bearing fifteen candies,
representing the Nght OF Christ and
OF the prophets who announced HIS
coming. As the psalms are sung the candle / are
gradually extlnguished, until only the topmost
remains Then the six lights the altar are
extinguished, and while the psalm "Mserere" Is
being recited IN low voice the topmos5 OF the
candles on the triangle Is taken down, lighted aud
carried behind the altar. and then put back in its
place to signify The Temporary extinction Of the
hight OF Christ during the period between the
death and re direction Then noise IA made by
the kneeling congregation 10 represent the con-
fusion and general disturbance oil nature thae
took place al the Redeemer's death, when the sun
was darAened, the earth shook and the veil OF the
temple was rent from top to bottom.
SPY WEDNESDAY,.
Wednesday is frequently called Spy Wednesday
nso on tnat day. @
called rom the new comm andmenr G1raddttne
noUasr) gwen 20 the discioies on that dav In an
cient times three misses we're said this day
the nrSt TO reconcile 3en EMS, the second Tor the
benedicton OF the holy oils ana the third to COM
memOrate the INSTITUTION OF the Eucnarist and OF
the priesthood OF the new law. Since they nave
been reduced to one these functions are performed
at dinerent times during The same mass.
On this day two ceremonies OF great significance
take place at the solemn mass IN Cathedral
uurches-the conservation by the BISHOP, as
sisted By twelve priests, in ull sacerdo;al dress,
o. the oils used IN the admin stra ton sacra-
Go hay him nI fAnt
OF the mass ana af.er The procession the cele-
or&nt was0es the feet OF twelve poor persons, in
washes the feet Of fifteen persons In memory OF
the body OF apostles raised TO That number by the
miraculous calling OF st. Paul. During the GLORIA
In EXcelss' or tue mass OF Thursday all the bells
are rung aud taenceiorward remain silent until the
host, sonsecraied at this mass, is carried in
solemn recession TO side altar. called the sepui-
mans there until the next day.
GOOD FRIDAY.
On Good Friday the altar Is denuded of its cloths
and ornaments 60 SIGNIFY the desolation OF the
Church, the prophecies relating TO tue Passion are
sung the ialthu perform the ceremony known as
silence TO the sepulchre, whence the presanctifed
host IS brought back In procession; offered in
alteration TO the people and consumed by the cole.
brant On Saturday the services begin BY the
blessing OF the ''new nreH obtained from nint and
STEEL as ever true vital light and warmth come
from the Rock OF Ages. Then the paschal candle
Is Blessed. an emblem o. Christ arisen. large
Of "ia' cross. All the prophecies or the Old
Testament pointing toward Cnrist's resurrection
are next cnanted the baptismal fonts are blesseds
the Ii any OF the saints Is sung and the cerem0.
MES conclude with the joyous mass which, with
It's alelulahs, ealing of bells and triumphant
strains OF music. ushers in the dawn of the Resur-
rection.
THIS week has incorrectly been termed Passion
Week, which, according TO the Latin end Greek
churches, is the week preceding Pain Suud.y.
The early Christians Called IL the eat Week. and
sO1ne were wont TO last curing 1t on one meal OF
bread, salt and water, saken eacn evening AID
others abstained rom 1000 the entire week. In
thn Al lyns N I'm naft tr
Week, and IN Germany ana amon0 the ScandlEa.
wan people 1t Is Known as stu Week. The greater
number OF Protestant CHURCHES do not solemniZc
it; but the Lutheran churches Church OF England
and Protestant Episcopal Church nave special
SarYiCAS each