The Indianapolis journal., 1891-03-23
PALM SUNDAY OBSERVANCE
Very Large Crowds at All the Special
Services of the Catholic Churches.
The Order Of Impressive Celebration for Holy
Week--Augustus r. Steck Called as Pastor
by the First English Lutherans.

Yesterday was Palm Sunday, one Of the
great days in the Catholic calendar. I'm
pressive services were held in all the
churches of that faith. and the attendance
was large. At st. Johns, which has by far
the largest membership of any church in
the city. there were services at 6 A. NJ, 730
A. NJ. 9 A. NJ, 1890 A. NJ. and p. NJ, and the
aggregate attendance was more than 1900
persons, fully $500 of whom attended the
1920 A. NJ. service, at which Bishop Chatard
blessed the palms. which were distributed
by three clergymen to the congregation.
The mass at this hour was celebrated by
Rev. Joseph +. Weber. Instead of the
chanting of the Passion, which is usual
on Palm Sunday. the narrative of the last
supper, the condemnation and the cruci-
fxion of Christ, given in the gospel of
st. Matthew, was read from the pulpit by
Rev. +. II. Gavisk. Following this was
read pastoral letter of the Bishop. di-
rected to the faithful. In this attention
was called TO the duties of Catholics to
maintain their own religious societies.
and notifying the people that on
the 29th of April synod would
be held in this city, to legislate for
was also called to the collection for tee
seminary, as it Is called. This collection,
the proceeds of which 90 for the education
of the clergy, will be taken on Easter in all
the churches of the diocese. There is now
no special seminary. Each student is given
so much year and allowed to choose his
place of instruction. The greater part of
them select st. Meinrads Abbey, in Spencer
county.
fer the week. This week is called Holy
Week, and the liturgy of the Catholic
Church places before the people the last
scenes in the life of the Savior. Next
Thursday, called Holy Thursday, will bring
the commemoration of the Lords supper.
At st. Johns the Bishop will ofiiciate all
that day. and be assisted by q large num-
ber of clergymen from the different
churches of the diocese in the sol
spo 1ssd IN the G the d9nsraoh Hs mhon
of baptism, confirmation and holy
orders. as well as amounting of the sick.
Good Friday will commemorate the death
OF Christ. and the services will be OF very
will be black. the church will be draped in
black and the image of the crucified
Savior will also be draped in that way.
There will be prayers for the civil and
ecclesiastical authorities, for pagans and
unbelievers, and. lastly. for the Jews, this
being the only day In the year on which
they are publicly prayed for in the church.
The week closes with Holy Saturday,
upon which day the ceremonies will be OF
more cheerful character than those i'm
mediately preceding them. The services
will consist of blessing the new fire."
from which all the lights used in the
services are taken for the year. One of
these lights is the paschal candle, which is
of wax and very tall. weighing from seven
TO eight pounds. This candle is lighted
from Easter to Ascension. at all the
services of the church, and is
typical of . the presence of Christ
upon earth after his resurrection. At these
services are read tue twelve prophecies re-
lating to the Messias, from the books of
Moses, Daniel, Isaiah and Malachi. The
ancient dispensatscn of the church was
celebrated at midnight before Easter. This,
however, is not done in this country. nor
perhaps anywhere else than In Spain.
Next Sunday will be Easter. tho most joy
full celebration of tho church.