The Evening critic., 1885-03-30
HOLY WEEK.
Observsnces During the Present Week
in Various Churches.


in Various Churches.
Tho last week of Lent, known as holy
week, commenced yesterday with Palm
Sunday, the Sunday before Easter, and
will be observed in the city churches by a
series of special services terminating in the
Joyous ceremonies at Easter.
The observance of Palm Sunday was
very effective. The churches aud affairs of
the Catholic, Episcopal and Lutheran
churches were beautifully decorated with
palms.
In three of the principal Episcopal
churches the observance was rendered ad
ditionally impressive by services of con-
flrmation. Bishop Paret otliciated at each
of these services, and at each the churches
were tastefully decorated aud crowded to
overfowing, while the Bishops c0nirma-
tion addresses were thoughtful and beauti.
ful, and were delivered with an earnest
ness and gentle, reverent eloquence that
rendered them memorable and impressive,
not only to the classes addressed, but to all
who heard him.
At st. Johns Church, Georgetown, the
class presented for confirmation in the
morning by DR.. Lindsey was composed of
seventeen members at st. Johns Church,
|. Washington, in the afternoon, DR.. Leonard
presented q class of thirty eight young
ladies and gentlemen and at the Church
Of the Epiphany, in the evening, DIR. Pitts
presented class Of sevonty-one members.
Bishop Parct went to Baltimore this
morning, but returns this evening to con-
duct services of confirmation at st. Mary S
Chapel.
In the churches in which the events of
holy week are commemorated there will be
daily services, with obseTvance5 appropriate
to the days ofthe last week of the Saviour's
life on earth.
Tomorrow the ladies of the various
Catholic churches commence decorating the
Repositories" In the accomplishment of
this work great taste is displayed, aud it is
| said that tho decorations this year will far
| surpass those year ago. The solemn cere-
| monies of the week begin in the Catholic
| church on Wednesday with the "ollce of
| the tenebIm," beautiful and impressive
service of song This service in tho old
Catholic countries is sung by the clergy,
but in this country the aid of trained male
choristers is required on account of the
small numbers Of the clergy. This service
will be sung also ON Thursday and Friday.
1t consists of the three penitential Psalms
of jeremiah, followed by the 'Misere" and
"Benedictus." 1t takes from one to one
hour and a-half to sing it. On Holy Thurs
day is celebrated the institution of the holy
eucharist. Two hosts are consecrated, one
10 be consumed and the other to be depos-
tied in the repository. After the mass the
procession of the blessed sacrament takes
place to tho repository when the host is
locked up in the tabernacle until Good FRI
day. Thursday and Friday are given up
to tho faithful for general visitation to tue
various churches.
On Good Friday prayer will be said for
everybody, Jews, inldes and heretcs. The
ceremony of the "veneration" or "kissing
Of the cross" is held. The churches will
be draped in black, and the altars entirely
stripped. Sepulchres will be placed in most
ofthe churches. Holy Saturday, the bless
ing of the NEW fire. takes place as also
the paschal candle" which will be allowed
TO remain in the altar for forty days. The
twelve prophecies will be read, the bap-
tismal font will be blessed, litanies
chanted, and lastly the mass Of the resur-
rection. At the "Gloria in Excelsis' the
bells are rung, which have been silent since
Holy Thursday.
In the Episcopal churches there will be
daily services and at some daily administra-
| tions of the communion. At some of the
churches there will bo three daily services.
The observance Of Good Friday will be
still more impressive
Arrangements are in progress for the Of
| fective decoration of tho churches with
flowers ON Faster The annual Easter festl-
walls of the Sunday schools will be held in
most cases on Sunday afternoon