The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-04-04
GOOD FRIDAY.
How 1t Will Be Observed in the
Churches.
Services Commemorative Of the Death Of
Christ Upon the Cross-Tha
Stabat Mater"

Luo udy CduocS III Inc nina OIL Inc most
worldly momentary touch of sadness.
How many are the mournful memories that
cluster about day whose first observance
was tragedy whose like the world has
never seen. All Christian people of what
ever name or sect seem to be compelled on
this day of universal mourning to dwell
thoughtfuily and prayerfully upon the
event commemorated, an event so heart
rending in its circumstances of sinless
suffering, and yet SO consoling in its after
effects upon humanity.
In all the Christian denominations Good
Friday is more or less strictly observed,
even in those churches which at the COM
meneement of their existence appeared not
to regard the keeping of religious anniyer-
sarie5 as an essential part of external wor-
ship. The ceremonies of the Catholic
Church on this day are of especial iG terest,
Astounding with symbolic rites and obsery-
ances, some of which are as old as Chris
tianity itself.
A singular feature of Good Friday in
Catholic churches is that no mass is offered.
On all other days during the year the priest
ascends the altar and celebrates with more
or less solemnity, according to the festival,
the holy sacrifice, which is a characteristic
feature OF Catholic worship; but on Good
Friday there is no celebration of the ell
charistic sacrifice. The clouds of incense,
the festive canticles of the parish choir and
the deep-toned voice of the organ, as well as
the silyery tinkle of the altar-bell, are alb
sent from the solemn offices, and their
absence carries with it a certain effect of
loss and sadness peculiarly in keeping with
the mournful Offices by which the days OBJ
serYance is characterized.
IN GARB OF MOURNING
AT the hour appointed for morning service
the clergy, unattended by lights or incense
ana ana atsired IN Dlack veStments. proceed to
the altar, which is devoid of all ornamental
ton, not even being covered by the usual
cloths. Two acolytes spread upon the altar
slab plain white linen cloth in memory of
the sheet with which Christs body was
covered at his burial, after which the clergy
VINO had been PROSTATE before the altar
with their faces to the ground, arise and
commence the reading of two lessons from
the Ola Testament containing prophetic ref
erence to the sutferings and death of Christ.
After several penltentlal supplications three
of the clergy read the history of Christ's
passion as recorded by st. john The
stands on which are placed the books from
which the account Of the passion is read are
deyoId OF hanglngs. In memory of Christ's
nakedness upon the cross, while ST. Johns
account Of the crucifXion is read because
that apostle was present at the terrible scene
and stood by the cross with Mary, the
mother OF Jesus, while it was being enacted,
AT the close OF The passion the celebrant,
having read as gospel the brief history of
Chrlsts entombment in the sepulcher of
Joseph OF Arimathea, commences to read or
chant long series Of prayers for the
church, the reigning pontiff, the civil and
ecclesiastical authorities, for the relief of
sufferers, the conversion of sinners and in
hdels and for the eyangellZation of pagan
nations. These prayers concluded. the
priest puts off his chasuble. or outer vest
ment, and goes to the epistle side of the
altar, where the deacon hands him a cross
concealed by white veil. Uncovering the
top OF the cross, the celebrant raises it in
the sight OF the people, singing "Ecce lig-
mum crucis " (behold the wood of the cross,
TO which the deacon answers. In quo
ton OF the world was hanged, after which
the choir answers, "Venite adoremus"
come, let us ADORE. This ceremony is re-
peated thrice, the celebrant uncovering a
portion OF the cross each time until it is
entirely exposed, the choir and congrega-
ton being PROSTATE, or at least kneeling.
ADoRATIoN OF THE CROSS.
Having uncovered the cross, the cele-
Drant places 1t upon stand or cushion in
front of the altar, and, removing his shoes,
makes three prostrations, after which he
kisses the feet of the image on the cross.
The clergy and people advance to do like
wise, two chOlrS meanwhile singing to a
plalntiye, antique melody the "reproaches,"
as they are called-a series of passages of
Holy Scripture, in which God is repre-
scented as complaining of mans ingrattude.
These are interspersed with the Praises"
Gholy God, Holy Almighty, Holy Immortal,
nave mercy upon u.s., which are sung al
teTnately IN Latin and Greek, with here and
lhere Hebrew word or phrase to COM
memorate the three languages in which the
inscription on Christs cross was written.
AT the close of the alteration the hymn
commencing "Crux Fidelis" 10 faithful
cross is sung, and candles are lighted and
placed on the altar. The clergy then 90 in
procession to the place where the holy
sacrament was deposited on the preceding
DAY and carry 1t to the altar with much
ceremonial lmpressiveness. A few prayers
taken from the mass are then said or sung
after which the eelebrant consumes the
sacred host, and vespers are recited imme-
dialely.
OTHER oBsERyANCEs.
During the day the cross is left exposed
for public alteration, and in the evening the
devotlons assume more of popular charac-
ter. Sermons are delivered on the Passion
of Christ, the exercise of the Way of the
Cross is recited in the popular language,
and IN some of the churches the HYMN
StaDat Mater IS sung with orchestral ac-
compartment. though the ritual forbds the
employment OF instrumental music on this
day. In some countries 1t is customary to
represent Ill the church with life-size stat
nes the crucitixtion of Christ, the descent
from the cross and the burial in the Sepul-
cher, though this observance IS not noted in
any standard liturgical work.
In this city the Offices in the cathedral
Will commence at o'clock in the morning.
In the evening at 80 o'clock the Way of
the Cross will be recited and q sermon on
the passion delivered. In the other
churches of various denominations services
more or less interesting will take place as
announced by the several pastors.
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