New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-15
THE CLOSE OF LENT.
CEREMONIES OF GOOD FRIDAY.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SERVICES AT TWO CATHOLIC
CufFpCUFa


Good Friday was observed with the usual
ceremonies and devotions in all the Catholic churches
yesterday The day is raye Of the death and
cruciaxon of Christ and consequently the churches
were draped mourning The services are called the
Presancted because the host which Is USED
I'm the mass was consecrated on Holy Thursday The
ceremonies differ considerably from any other In the
Catholic Church in any part Of the year.
At ST. AIMS Church. in East Twelfthst, the services
began al o'clock The large crucix the high altar
was stripped of its purple covering and completely MD
den with black velvet The back OF the high altar was
by large Grape VAIL and the sanctuary and the
steps OF the high altar covered with black CLOTH
The celebrant yicarGeneral Preston, assisted by
the Rev. Father Lynch acting deacon and the Rev.
Father Hayes subdesoon. When the clergymen nrst
into the sanctuary they Frustrated themselves De-
the altar and remained several minutes In earnest
prayer. and at the time single cloth WAS put on
the altar instead Of three ia customary After read
ing a number OF lessons, the Passion was read tine
conclusion OF the Passion the celebrant read
number OF prayers. and prayed TOT all
classes Of people, including schismatcs herctics Jews
and others. At the end Of each prayer the clergymen
and people knet down. excepting at the prayer for
the Jews when they remained standing because II was
In mockery that Jows knelt before Christ Whcn inc
prayers ended the alteration Of the cross was be-
gun. This ceremony dates from the time In tho fourth
century whom the Empress Helena Is declared to have
fury public practice OF generating the cross on Good
Friday stated introduced This ceremony
was performed yesterday by the cergymen first and then
by all the people In the church The ceiebrant Invested
himself OF the chasube and stood the Epste side Ga
the altar facing the people, and tho large which
had been on tho altar covered with black cloth was
handed to him by tho deacon Tho Rev. Father Preston
then uncovered the upper part far as the arms ana
sang the words, Ecce HgnuDl ccts behold tho WOOD
of the cross y I'm low OF voice. He then advanced
along OF the altar and the words In
louder tone. and at the time unyalcd the right arm
OF the cross again advanced this time to the middle
OF the altar and eevang the sang in very LOUD
tone words, at the time removing the COW
ering OF thcross. which then placed on cushion IN
the middle Of the sanctuary alteration by the clergy
men. The celebrant then took of his shoes
and made three genuGe1ions at intervals be-
fore the cross and at the last he bowed and
kissed IT, lie was then followed by the .deacon and
snl-deacon . 1t was then announced that the people
might Tire coming forward to the altar-ra
large number OF people hrOng around the atarra,
and n chant rendered During the whole OF these
ceremonies there lights the high altar and at
the conclusion Of the alteration OF the by the peo
pie tho candles lighted and tho cross when had
lust been unyaIed. was placed on the altar process
sion then formed from tie repository III Whicn
the sacrament had been placed Holy Thursday, ana
the clergy. with lighted tapers in their hands sang
hymn As the higi altar was reached the deacon
eced the host upon the altar aud the rest o. tue
srvoes the same rs an ordinary mass IN the Oatho
lie Church
Al ST Budgets r. C. Church there an immense
creation yrsteray The services began at O'clock VII
Father Mooney. celebrant Father Lynch, deacon and
Father McCabe, subleacOn. The altar was pare, ana
The large cross, candratcks and surroundings were
drapcd in mourning. The organ was silent, anh tue
whole expression OF the church was sonDer. Tue Ias
sion was read In English by the Rev. Father Lynch.
After the Alteration of the Cross an imposing procession
formed from tie altar OF repose to the hisa altar