The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-15
MAUNDY THURSDAY.
Catholic CGmmem0ratiOn of the
Last Supper.
How It Was Observed in the City Churches
Eltais Redolent Of Flowers and
Ablaze With Light.

Yesterday the Catholic church celebrated
the feast OF Manndy Thursday, the day
upon which Christ Instituted the sacrament
of the blessed Eucharist at the last supper.
The c0mmemOraiion holds an anomalous
position In church celebrations. seeing that
if comes in the midst of the sorrowful
events recalled during the week in the
passion and death of Christ. Though the
whole church is in mourning, and for that
reason ordained tie feast of Corpus Christi
as the day of particular thanksgiving for
the institution OF tie sacrament, yet she
cannot refrain from giving some express
sion Of Joy on the very day whereol Christ
ordained this great sacrament. Therefore
il is that the yeStments used in the sacred
office are white and that at the Gloria in
ENcelsis the bells all ring gladstone peal.
At tie close Of that hymn of praise. how
ever, the bells are sileneed as an expression
OF mourning. and are not brought into use
again until the hymn is repeated a. the mass
on Easter Sunday morning.
According 10 the rubrcs two hosts are
conSrcrated at the mass on Maundy Thurs
day. one of which is consumed by the cele-
brant OF that mass and the other is carried
in procession 10 a throne on another altar.
The removal of the consecrated host to the
temporary throne or tabernacle is for the
purpose of allowing the celebration of the
Passion 10 so on uninterrupted at the main
altar for the three days which began at the
tenebre the night before. Following tho
mass the office of vespers is said, and then
the priest and bis attendants remove the
linen and ornaments from the nain altar,
leaving it perfectly bare.
At the temporary throne or altar Of re-
pose, however, the surroundings are as
brilliant as the wealth of each individual
church and the devotion of its congrega-
ton can make them. There are few fami-
lies so poor as to be unable TO bring an
Offering OF flowers or wax tapers for use on
this day, and the united contributions under
the deft handling of the ladies of the altar
societies, the Sisters Of the Holy Family,
the brothers and religieuses. make quite q
handsome appearance.
1t Is the custom Of the faithful on this day
TO make plous pigrlmaRes TO as many of
the affairs as possible and 10 leave an aims
at each. The heavy rain which set in in
the afternoon in this city thinned out the
ranks eff these pilgrims to a very marked
extent save at the Cathedral and the
churches ministered By the religious orders
which, whether hail or shine, seem always
to be well attended. When the hour for
tue tenebTe came around. however, there
was not a sacred ediice without its throng
OF HorshiperS. though St. Mary's and St.
IgnatiuS seemed the centers toward which
the majority Of good Catholics turned their
steps. At both OF these not only were the
pews filled. but the neighbOrhood of the
doors was crowded by those for whom no
seating accommodation cOula be procured.
Below will be found mention Of the
churches where the decorations Of the oltar
OF rep0Se were worthy of note