The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-03-12
miscellaneous.
f6I Tie 4hgiS d. httHiqtncer
MARCH
ny A VI. HANCOCK.
No. II.
PALM SUNDAY.

PALM SUNDAY.
The 2lst of March this year is known i'm
the Church Calendar as Palm Sunday, com
nemorating the last entrance of Christ into
Jerusalem, when the people who thronged the
way broke branches from palm trees and
strewed them i'm the road over which He pass
ed. 1t is the Sunday preceding Easter Sun
day, and has been observed as n holy day from
a very early period in Church history. The
custom prevails in the Catholic churches of
blessing palm branches in countries where
they grow; the branches of other trees, the
willow usually, in countries where the palm
is not produced. Thousands of foreigners
flock to Rome to be present at the blessing of
the palms by the Pope, and to witness the
ceremonies of the week following, which is
called Holy Week. The blessed palms are
preserved rs taismans to guard the owner
against disease and many other evils. In
Spain they are fastened to the balcony rail-
ings to keep the devil and witches out of the
house, and some believe them to have the
power of averting the destruction of the
house by fire. The superstitious believe I'M
less they have blessed palm branch in their
hand that day the hand will be cut of. All
the high dignitaries, as well as ordinary peo-
pie, witness the blessing of palms in Catholic
countries and formerly in Rome the diplo-
matte corps attended at St. Peters in body.
The 25th of the present month is called
Maundy Thursday in commemoration of
the beautiful humility of Christ, when He took
the water and towel and washed and dried
the feet of his disciples. Kings and princes
in Catholic countries humble themselves in
imitation of the Great Master. To the Master
it was natural. With the followers, in many
instances, it is hypocritical Good Queen
Bess," for instance, on her Both birthday, per-
g. ,,1
Her Majesty took precious good care to have
their feet first washed by the yeomen of the
laundry with warm water and sweet herbs :;
and afterward by her ub.charity officer; and
then Her Most Gracious Majesty fell devout-
ly upon her knees and performed the same
humilating service marked the feet with the
sign of the cross, and kissed them. The Pope
always performs this service; and saw the
Queen of Spain Isabella the I'd, wash the
feet of twelve paupers some years ago;
think the same year the Pope sent her the
Golden Rose her certificate of being themost
Christian sovereign then temporarily ruling
upon the face of the globe Barnaby Googe
translates an old, old poem as follows:
And here the Monks their maundies make with
And signs Of great humility, and wondrous pleas
ant sights.
Each Oh" one the Others feet doth wash, and wipe
With hateful mind and secret fraud that in their
AS if that Christ with His examples did these
things require,
And not to help our brethren here with zeal and
free desire;
Each one supplying others want, in all things that
AS he himself servant made to serve us every
Then straight the loaves do walk and pots in every
place they skink,
whcrewith the holy fathers oft to pleasant dam
sells drink.
The Goth of March, this year. is Good Fri
day, or the Day of the Passion, and is one of
the oldest and most celebrated in the Church
Calendar. In Catholic countries it is observed
with much pomp and ceremony. In some
places, land before the change of religion in
England, II dressed figure of Christ is fastcn-
ed TO cross, and carried around the altar by
| two priests with solemn chanting. 1t is then
placed on the ground, they falling beside it,
and with great wailing and bitter weeping
they kiss the feet and hands; then the other
priests present do the same thing. Afterward
the people come to worship the dead Saviour.
Then the figure is buried with great ceremony
the bearing of torches burning of incense
and the strewing of flowers on the grave. In
old times the English kings blessed rings on
Good Friday the wearing of them preserving
the wearer from being afflicted with cramps.
King Edward the Conftssor wore q ring, 50
says tradition, that had wonderful power in
curing cramps, from which this old custom
probably had its rise. Another superstition
which prevailed among our ancestors, was
that bread baked on Good Friday, and kept
through the year was cure for any disease
but especially diarrhea, if grated in water
As pancakes form one of the dinner dishes on
Shrove Tuesday, so do hot cross buns belong
to the breakfast table on Good Friday. On
Good Friday morning, in London, the air
fairly trembles with The shouting of,
| lone penny, buns,
Two penny, buns,