The morning call., 1891-03-28
GOOD FRIDAY.
How II Was Observed in the
Catholic Churches.
Services Commemorative Of the Death Of Christ
Upon the Cross-The Three Hours
Agony" Preached.

Good Friday was generally observed in
tie city yesterday By all Of the Christian
denominations, and in the Catholic churches,
especially, the observauces were OF the most
solemn character. The day, under the an
Gent ordinances Of the Jews. was originally
one of preparation for Easter ana was called
tie ParasceYe, but since the beginning OF the
Christian era the followers of the new dis
peusa,ian have taken It to commemorate the
death and burial Of our Lord.
The services in the Catholic churches,
aboaudiug as they did with symbolic rites
ami observances, were Of particular inter-
est. A singular feature of the comm mora
ton was the fact that no mass was cele-
bratcG-a ceremony that is performed every
day IN the year but that, with more or less
so.emnity and grandeur, according to the
festival. Then, too, the music and the bells
and the fragrant incense were absent, and
the surroundings Of the altar bet0kened an
occasion OF the greatest mourning.
CATHOLIC CEREMoNIE 5.
At the hour appointed for the morning
services the priests, in all Of the churches
where the rites were fully observed, entere d
the sanctuary in black vestments and pro-
ceeded 10 the altar, which had remained I'M
covered since the previous day. The altar
linen was then spread by the acolytes in
memory Of the winding sheet IN which
Cnust was buried. Ihereupon the clergy,
who meanwhile had Frustrated themselves
before the altar, arose ana read the pro-
NleClcs concerning the SuteringS anu death
of the Lord. Subsequently the Passion,
according to St. John, was read, he being
the evangelist who stood by the cross with
the Blessed Virgin and Mary Magdalen
during ClriSt's three hours agony. 10 the
Lilo, ~ orr "A
the sepulcneT va, given and then the clergy
Chautrd prayers tHr the Telsuln- lontiH,
tBe civil and ecclesiastical author ties, for
the conversion Of sinners and lunde!S, the
relief Of those in suffering and the eYangel-
lZaiUn oil pagan nations.
UNVEIIING THE CROSS.
Following these prayers came the uuveil-
iug If the cross, WIich was performed at
tile epiSIlr side OF the altar by the celebrant.
Here lac WAS handed a crucluX by The dea-
con, and uuc0verIug part OF the white veil
in which it was wrapped, he held it up to
the people, singing EcCe llgnum crucls
(Bth Id the wood Ut tile cross, 10 which the
deacon answered " In quo salus mUndi
pependlt " (Un Which hung the salvation Of
the world, after which the choir answered,
" Neniie adorrmus Come. let US adore.
This ceremony was repeated thrice, the
celebrant unc0verng portion Of tie cross
each time until It Was entirely exposed.
Having uncovered the cross, the celebrant
placed II upon stand or cushion in front of
Tie altar, and, removing his shoes, made
three pTpstrationS, after which he kissed the
feet Of the cruciiX. being followed by the
clergy, the arulytes and the congregation,
who pay similar h0nurs TO the symbol Of
mans redemption. While the choir chants
tie verses in which the Redeemer is repre-
scented is reproducing the Jews for their IN
gratitude.
MASS OF THE PRES ANCTIFIED.
These are iuterspeTsed with the Praises
NlDly God, Holy Almighty, Holy Immortal,
have merry upon u.s., which are sung alter
nately IN Latin ana Greek, with here and
there a Hebrew word or phrase 10 cOmmem-
crate the three languages III which the in
riptiun on ChTists cross was written.
Nlrn the alteration of the cross was fin
iShed the candles were lighted and the cru
citx placed in its accustomed position on
the altar. Then the ceieOrant, assistant
clergy and acOlytes went in procession 10
tie altar OF TepUSe, whence the sacred eie-
Ments COusrcrated on the previous day were
carried back to the high altar, where the
mass OF the presanctgtied is celebrated with
great ceremonial impressIveuesS. After the
mass, yespers were Immediately chanted,
and the morning services were over.
~ -. Ignatius Church, in addition to the
ceremonies Just described, the three hours
agony was preached from y to 3 o'clock
lie beautiful ed1ce was dCaped in white,
typical Of the purify Of the life Of the Re
deemer. while here and there purple cover
ing, and dTapugs displayed the sorrow Of
the church al the awful tragedy which was
being COmmemOrated.
THE THREE HOURS AGONY.
The ceremony consisted of short sermons
On tine life ana death Of the Savior, inter-
sue1sed with meditaJioas, which were ac-
cumpaHied by Mercadante's orat0rio of
Tile seven Last Words OF Our Lord on the
Cross"
The musical portion Of the services was
most elaborate. and fully sustained the
reputation which the Jesuit Church enjoys
Of eXCellIng in everything it undertakes.
The uTatOriO was given with full orchestral
accompaniment and was participated in by
The following artists: Sopranos - = me.
Louise Genderella and Mrs. Millzner-Ham-
iton sO.olstS, assisted by Miss Mcdonald,
MIS-. Gonzales, Miss Silva and Miss Weir;
aitos-MrS. GrifIi1 ami Mrs. Parent SOLO
ISIS, assisted by Mrs. McComb, Mrs. Fo-
garty ana Mrs. Coyle; tenOrs - Charles
Boch, d. NJ. Jones and J. Lane; bassos-A.
Thornton, Professor Sonolt, J. Fugarty and
j. Lillian director. Professor John Muller.