Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-03-29
HOLY THURSDAY.
The Day Commemorative of the Last
Supper.

The Day Commemorative of the LSs'
Supper.
To-day is Holy or Maundy Thursday
the day on which the Church commend
rates the last supper Of our divine Re
deemer, the holy Eucharist, and the wash
ing Of the feet Of the apostles. The solemn
conservation Of the holy oils employed il
the administration of the sacraments o.
baptism, extreme JUNCTION, holy orders
confirmation, and certain solemn blessings
take place on this day. This conservation
is performed by the Bishop, with twelve
priest and seven deacons and sub deacOns
rs assistants and witnesses of the ceremony.
The mass is celebrated in white vest.
mants, because the institution of the
blessed Eucharist is commem0rated; but
after the "GlOria IN Excelcis" the bells are
silent until the 'Gloria," in the masses OF
Holy Saturday, in honor Of the silence Of
the Saviour during his passion, and the
gloom and mourning Of his Church for his
suflerings and death.
The priest consecrates two hosts, resery-
ing n for the next day when there is no
conservation. After mass the blessed eu,
charist is carried to a repository, often
called sspulcbre. Here il remains until
the time of the Good Friday service; and
here the faithful resort, pouring out their
onrlo - alnrat;,, anaI =. xz-..
ton. The chief altar of the church is
then stripped TO remind the faithful of the
stripping of Saviour, and the abandonment
in which Christ passed the night before the
day Of His death. In Rome, the stripping
Of the affairs is followed by the washing OF
the feet. The Pope washes the feet OF
some poor person in imitation of his Divine
Master at the last supper, and in many
churches of this country the same custom
is carried ont.
Tomorrow the precious death of the Di-
vine Redeemer will occupy the attention
and arous the devotion of the CHURCH. 1t
Is the most sad and solemn day of Holy
week. The Church il in mourning. Her
words are words Of sorrow and compunc.
ton. The officiating clergy appear in
black yestments, and PROSTATE themselves
before naked affairs. No mass is said; no
sacrifice offered. Tie holy sacrament is
brought back from the altar Of repose
where it is placed the day before, and re-
ceiytd in n kind by the priest. No
others receive holy communion, except the
priest who celebrates the Office, and those
in danger of death, 10 whom the Vatican
is administered. On this day prayers are
offered up for all men; Christians, heretics,
Jews and pagans, because Christ died for
all; even for the salvation of those who
shed his blood.
On Good Friday also takes place what is
called the exposition or alteration Of the
cross. When the prayers for all conditions
Of men are ended, the cross, which, until
this time, has been covered with black, ia
exposed to view and kissed ny clergy and
people. When the priest holds up the i'm
age Of Jesus Christ dying for us on the
cross, aud when the priest and people kneel
down TO kiss the representation Of the
wounds in the feet, it is an act of love and
faith in a crucified Redeemer. Reason,
religion, and the impulse Of contrite hearts
leads rs forward, az in all ages of Christi
anity they have lead forward. Popes,
kings, scholars, saints, kneel and kiss the
instrument of redemption, the cross OF
our Lord Jesus Christ. 1t is not to the
material Cross the faithful pay their admi-
ration, but to Him who on it offered for the
sins Of humanity the sacrifice Of propiti-
alton.