The morning call., 1890-04-05
HOLY SATURDAY.
Services Of Symbolic Beauty in
the Catholic Churches.
Blessing Of the New Fire-Benediction of the
Font and Baptism of Can
didates.

The morning office of Holy Saturday, as
it will be performed to-day in the Cathedral
and other Catholic churches of the city,
apart from Its symbolic beauty, cannot fail
10 interest even the casual listener and OBJ
server. The ceremonies may be placed
under the three following heads: The
blessing of the new fire, the benediction
of the font with the baptism of candidates
and attendant ceremonies, and the antici-
patoIy celebration of Christs resurrection,
each Of which gives opportunity for much
ceremonial impressiveness.
On Good Friday the lights that burn in
the church throughout the year are extin-
guishcd in commemoration of the death of
Christ, to whom the Scriptures refer as the
light of the world. The first ceremony on
Holy Saturday is then the benediction of a
new fire in memory of the resurrection of
the Savior.
AT the usual hour the altar is adorned
with flowers. hangings and unlighted
candles, and the clergy, robed in purple vest
ments, go in procession to the outer door of
the church. Without the entrance fire of
Goals is kindled from flint and is solemnly
blessed by the officiating clergyman. At
the same time five grains of incense are also
blessed, after which the deacon, exchang-
ing his purple dalmatc for one of white,
takes rod with three candles fixed in the
upper end, and lighting one of them at the
blessed fire, sings "Lumen Christi" (the
Light of Christi. to which the clergy and
people answer "Deo GratiaS" Thanks be to
God. In the middle of the church and be-
fore the altar the other two candles are
lighted with the same ceremonies. Having
arrived at the altar, the deacon receives the
celebrants blessing and sings the hymn
nOu pitarr MpxsT laf hn liz Z
heaven rejoice" during which he fixes
the five grains Of incense pre-
viousiy mentioned in the form of a
cross on the side of a large torch or
pillar of wax, which is intended to repre-
sent the risen Christ with his five wounds.
This torch is lighted with one of the three
candles on the rod, after which the lamps
and candles in the church are lighted, the
light having come from the blessed fire, and
prayers are chanted for the ruling powers
in church and state ard for the clergy and
laity. Ihls part OF the office Of Holy Satur-
day is said to have been composed by ST.
Ambrose.
BLESSING THE FONT.
As the second part of the oflice--the bless
ing of the water in the baptismal font-was
primarily intended for the solemn baptism
of converts from paganism, it opens with
the chanting OF twelve prophecies contain
ing instructions for the catechumens. These
prophecies, taken from the books of twelve
of the prophets of the Old Testament, con-
tain many figures of the sacrament of bap-
tism, and are interspersed with prayers for
the asplrantS to reception into the church.
Proceeding with his ministers TO the bap-
tistery the celebrant blesses the water In
the font, signing it with the sign of the
cross, exercising the evil spirit, sinking the
paSchal candle or torch into it. and pouring
upon it first blessed oil, then chrism and
lastly both together in the form of cross.
If there are any cand dates for baptism
they are then baptised in the usual manner,
after which the clergy return tn the altar,
where the Litany is sung to a mOurnful and
rather mOnOtonOus Greg0rian chant. At its
close the clergy array themselves in white
yestments, and commence the celebration
of high mass. The singers intOne the
'kyrie EleisOn" TO plaintive melody with
out accompaniment, after which the cele-
brant commences the "Gloria in Excelsis,"
which is Immediately taken up by the full
choir accompanied by the organ and other
instruments, the bells being rung mean
while.
TIE RESURRECTION ANTICIPATED.
This sudden transition is intended to
typify the joy felt by the disciples of Christ
ON learning OF his resurrection. The mass
concludes much in the usual manner, ex-
cept that the "Alleluia" is continually re-
peated in almost every part, aud the music
Is of the liveliest character. Immediately
after mass, vespers are chanted and the
public services close.
The busy clerics, hard worked singers
and devuut laity give place to the decor
atOrs, who, in the short time that remains,
do what they can to adorn and beautify the
sanctuary for the glad Easter festival. The
Cathedral, it is said, will be decorated with
greater taste and elegance than ever be-
fore, while st. Ignatius, Grace and Trinity
Episcopal, the First Congregational and
other churches of every denomination will
blossom forth in Garands of the sweetest
flowers in honor Of the greatest of all
Christian festivals.