The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-04-12
Holy Week and Easter.

The last week was what is known in Greek,
Roman, English and Lutheran churches as holy
week--or the week in which is COMMUNICATED
the death Of Christ |, has long been observed by
the church by all the churches until during the
reformation, when many of the new born sccts
threw of all forms and obscUcnces ol the
earlier chucA. In carly times it was q sccson of
vacation for law courts, Of suspension of cNccu.
tion>, OF release Of prisoners, of relaNations of
servants II was not uncommon TO pass the whole
week in total abstinence from food; and those
who could not do 50 ate but dry meat, bread, salt
and water; all tasted ON Good Friday AND S0tur-
day. The week began on Palm Sunday when,
rs now, palms or other greens were blessed and
distributed TO the people Through the week
services were rs now neld every day. In the Ro-
man and Greek churches the liturgy for the
weeks services is very elaborate, depicting the
history and minute circumstances of our Lords
death IN the Lutheran and Episcopal churches
services are held every day In the Greek church
attention is called in the Wednesday service to-
the woman who washed our Lords feet with her
tears and wiped them with the hairs OF her head
the compassion of God. In old times Thurs
day was regarded rs IL peculiarly solemn day.
The communion was celebrated twice, and ii was
permitted TO eat food with less scruplc than on
other days OF the week. Good Friday, Il name
originating in the English church, was observed
with the strictcst abstinence and humiliation, Us
the day ON which Christ died Saturday also was
strict fast day lamps and torches were kept
burning in the churches and in private houses,
and it was, and is still, noted day for baptsms,
I, Il
pointed.
The week ends on Saturday night, and the fol-
lowing Sunday is Easter the Queen Festival of
the Year" 4 festival in honor of the Resurrec-
ton has been observed in all ages of the church;
but as with Christmas and other great lcasts, the
date was matter Of controversy. vt one time
il was the custom To celebrate the resurrection
on the Sd day after the lst month of the Jewish
caendar-the Sd day after the Passover but the
western Christians thought it should always be
observed on Sunday The 'fathers, Of course,
had their "spats ON the subject and in l96 Victor
accommodated those who did not agree with
him on the subject but the western custom grew
in favor until the council of Nice in }25 fixed the
usage Of keeping the feast on Il Sunday. The
proper Sunday then became 4 fruitful theme IorI
accommodations but this too wa, finally set
tied: the first Sunday after the first full moon
which happens upon or after March u. The Ges- +!
tiyal lasted - days during which law suits were
suspended, imdulgcnccs granted to criminals and
special lheralty shown to the poor. Easter week
was celebrated with religious sOlcmnity-was in |
fact a holiday season as it is to Il certain extent
in England now. The word Easter is probably |
derived from the Saxon EoSttF, goddess whose
festival the SaXOns celebrated at this season
while pagaus for il was the custom OF the carli. |
or preachers not 10 discardand dcuouncc the fes-
rivals of paganism but to hold Them and by |
changing their meaning, making the customs Of
paganism means to the end they sought-thc |
conversion of the people.
Tomorrow, services Will be held at the Episco- |
pal church ana it may add somewhat to the inter
est to the spectator to know that the opening an
them Of the service, "Christ our Passover" has
been sung every Easter since 1862; and the an
thems following, "Christ being raised from the
dead, and Christ is risen from the dead" used
in place of the "Vcnitc,' have been sung since
1552. BY the way the ''Nente' itself (sung cv-
cry Sunday has been used from the very earliest
period Tie usual services will be held at the |
st. COLUMBIA catholic church tomorrow