The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-22
THIS Is HOLY WEEK.
Palm Sunday to Inaugurate
Impressive Services.
OBSERVANCE or THE TENEBRE.
Some OF the Rules Of tho Week Notices
OF Today's Religious Services In
Various Churches.

Palm Sunday will be appropriately observed
in Seattle today, and the Catholic and Episcopal
churches of the city will enter with great soleu-
nifty upon the impressive services Of Holy Week.
In most of the churches blessed boughs of ever
greens or palm will be distributed from the
altar to the kneeling worshippers gathered
around to celebrate the passion and death OF
Jesus Christ and the redemption OF man. The
palm is distributed in commemorstion Of the
strewing Of palm branches along the wayside
during Christ's journey from jerusalem to
Jericho. The palm that 10 left after distribution
IL burned, and the ashes are preserved for use at
the altar on next Ash Wednesday, when lesson
of humility will be taught the faithful by mark
ing with ashes cross upon their foreheads.
The observance of Lent, aud especially OF
Holy Week, dates back to the beginning OF
Christianity. but its observance today is not
what 1t was in ancient times, and the little sarri-
fees made now will scarcely compare with the
rigid sclfdenials 80 zealously prsctised by our
forefathers. There is lesson in Lent, however,
that il not to be taught to men and women
alone, but to be taught to those just entering
the pathways of life, for strength and
guidance through mature experience-it IL
the lesson Of remuneration. Perhaps no one re-
quires more than q little reflection upon his own
career to be convinced that the vanity of human
life is like river. constantly passing away, and
yet constantly coming on. But if the lesson OF
sires, is written on the tablet OF our own hearts,
we may easily gain an expression of the futility
of years by turning to the pages Of those who
have written, or by lifting the veil that con-
ceals the signs OF care and trouble experienced
by those around us. And the season OF Lent
teaches us how to be more efficiently trained to
meet and bear what inevitably awaits us In
coming years, when disappointments are met
with at every turn, aud we are denied many
things that are most ardently wished for.
The lesson OF Lent teaches us to practice self
denial without q murmur against what may
sometimes seem an unkind fate. and the world
is made better by the sacrifices of self which the
rigorous rules of the church require at this par
ticular season.
Holy Week of all times OF the year is most
xealously observed by devout Catholics, and in
Catholic churches the passion is read every
morning at mass to remind the congregation
again aud again OF the snfferings and death of
Christ. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
evenings the Office of TenebrR 10 read. 1t Is
peculiar ceremony that lis often ridi-
culed by persons ignorant of its mean
ing, but to those who understand that the
Tenebrc is graphic account of the scenes
and incidents connected with the last supper
and crucifixion OF Christ, different feeling
prevails. During the Tencbr@ q large triangu-
lar candlestick containing fifteen wax candles
is placed prominently before the altar, and at
the conclusion Of each of the lauds and lessons
q candle is extinguished, until only the one In
the center remains. This one represents Christ
and the others His disciples, and the ex-
tinguishing OF the candles represents the dcser-
ton OF His followers who, in His hour of
suffering, left Him one by one. After this the
choir chants the lauds, the church il darkened
and the only remaining lighted candle Is taken
from the eandlestick by an acolyte and
concealed behind the altar. This rep
and as the lights are all ont
and darkness reigns, the choristers and acolytes
who are provided with little wooden rattles,
create quite noise to remind the congregation
of the fact that when Christ expired on the cross
the earth trembled, the dead arose and total
darkness prevailed. The tumult soon subsidies
and the lone candle is restored to its place in
the triangle to remind us of the resurrection of
Jesus Christ after His three days In the
sepulchrc. This is one of the most interesting
and impressive ceremonies that the church OBJ
serves, and no one who has ever witnessed the
Tenebra can fail to feel deeply affected by the
sacred scenes SO wildly recalled.
Thursday OF Holy Week as the day on which
the Holy Eucharist was instituted, is another i'm
portent day in the church. On Holy Thursday
morning the sacrament is removed to the side
altar with much ceremony, the priest, acolytes
and choristers moving in solemn procession from
the main altar to the side altar or repository,
while the sacrament is carried in golden
chalice held on high, and the gong strikes and
the worshippers bow their heads in devout rev.
erence. The side altar is brilliantly illuminat-
ed and covered with bright flowers, while the
main altar is stripped of all ornaments and 10
left deserted, and its pictures and statuary are
draped in purple and black.
Good Friday, the day of the crucifxion, is
spent in fasting and prayer. and all things con-
nected with the church bear an aspect of sor-
row and mourning. The priests are clad in
black vestments and the s.iloria in Excelsis" 10
omitted from the mass. The crucifix il blessed,
aud the congregation knee,ing at the altar rails
kiss the wounds on the hands and feet OF the
figure OF Christ as the priests presents it to
them.
On Saturday of Holy Week, the eve of Easter,
the procession that conveyed the sacrament to
the side altar, takes it from the repository and
restores 1t to the main altar, and the "Gloria in
Excelsis' is sung by the choir the gong is struck
and the little altar bells in the hands of the mass
servers are joyfully rung. And the large bell
which is silent from Holy Thursday until Sat
urday. is loudly rung during the singing of the
"Gloria."
Easter Sunday follows and brings JOY and
gladness on account OF the end OF Lent, and the
church is decked in flowers and evergreens the
music is of the finest and most inspiring, and
the world rejoices ever the resurrection of
Christ. And those who have properly observed
Lent feel the better for it. morally mentally aud
physically.
IN CONS rEMpvrs