The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-01
THE SEVEN WORDS
Services Commemorative
of the Crucifixion.
THE CROSS AT ST. IGNATIUs.
impressive Observance of Good FRI
day at All the Catholic and
Anglican Churches.

"a ihOlc and Anglican chuTcHes III tho CITY,
Especially was this the case at 81. lgna-
ius Church, on Hayes street, where from
iarly morning until evening commemorative
services were held.
At the great Cathedral on Van Ness
lvenue and in the remaining Catholic
churches the solemn liturgy appointed for
he occasion had place.
But in ST. IEnatus there had been an
bounced the Devotion of the Three Hours
Agony of Our Lord on the Cross" to take
place between u noon and P. NJ There
we're also special services at this church in
the morning and evening.
AS a consequence st. 1gnatius was
thronged throughout the entire day.
In the afternoon, during the three hours
service, even the aisles were packed with
EOTshpeTS, who participated in the deyu-
lions and the symbolic yeneration of the
cross.
! Throughout the dav the magnificent
church presented all the signs of mourning.
Tie officiating priests wore black stoles,
tine bright altar-picture was screened by a
Violet pail, the music, elaborate and beautl-
ful as IL was, all had a solemn, minor ch ar
setter, and the most conspicuous object IN
ihe building was the representation OF the
trucifed Savior on the Tight-hand sid OF
he main altar.
TIE first service was at A. N. and lasted
lntil 10 A NJ.
1t was conducted with singular impress
siveness by Rev. Father SASHA, Sd, and
consisted chiefly of the "Litany Of the Pas
iion," according TO St. John.
Prayers were then offered by Father
SaSia- on behalf Of all orders Of the church,
rom the high dignitarieS, priests, deacOus,
5ub-deacons and acolytes TO the lalty.
. Then the limits Of creed were relaxed, and
= fervent supplications offered for pagans and
such as believed enormously. The crowned
heads Of the Old World. the Hebrews and
all UAbelievers were prayed for that they
might be converted 10 the true faith.
Then followed the significant ceremony
OF the uncOverng of the cross.
During the last two weeks the cross has
been covered with violet ciuth in the same
manner as the big altar-piece above. 1t
vas now sOlemnly uncovered by Father
:basia and exposed to the veneTat!on Of the
faithful.
The act of venerauon was performed
first by the clergy and then two priests pre-
scented the cTucifx to be kissed, the people
passing around before the altar and press
ing their lips to the symbol of sublime sac
Rice.
Afterwsrd came the procession of the
tesSed sacrament Tbs host, cOuSecTated
Thursday aud kept in the repository dur
lIg the night, was brought from st. JOsepRS
tar and carried in procession TO the main
a tar, where Father SASHA consumed it in
holy communion. This ceremony was re-
qaired, as on Good Friday there is no mass
. 'OI sacrifice proper.
At noon the peculiarly moving Service
OF agony" commenced.
The Devotion of the Three Hours
Agony OF Our Lord on the Cross" was In
. tender to commemorate the three hours,
during which Christ suffered the tOrtures of
.the cruclhxl0D 1t was devised BY Father
AlpbonSus MessiR of the Society of Jesus,
V,i-o first introduced it in the city of Lima,
: ii Peru, about the year no 1t was soon
%FTead through Southern America ana
lEeXicO, thence 10 Europe, and is now prac-
feed in many churches throughout the
:{sthDlic world.
1t consists of a series of short discourses
:dT the ''Seyen Last Words of Christ on the
:9IOss," interspersed with sacred music,
l6lh- vocal and instrumental, and with
s.:Irayers appropriate to the occasion.
:. The services we're conducted bY Rev.
>Jeseph NJ. NeTi, S. j., who was rObed in
sblick..
D.: " Particularly fine music was rendered on
= T. Secession, being in all respects the same
that composed Tor Three Hours" by
{; heIcadante OF NOvara. Its rendition was
b: perfect orchestra and male and female
eioir under the direction of Professor
Z 5erbiel.
The long service opened with a symphony
followed by two prayers and an iutroduc-
tory discourse explaining the peculiar
slemnity and purpose OF the occasion.
Then came an invitation hymn, prayers
AID the anthem eft incarnatus est" by the
cloir.
The seven last words from the cross
were then taken up seriatim, each eonstitu-
tag the nucleus of separate sub-serYice.
The first word was: Father, forgive
them, for they know not what they do"
Luke xiii "a. A discourse followed
nd after prayer the choir rendered
'Chrstus factus est"
"Amen, say to thee; this day thou shalt
% with rue in paradise" duke xiii :43) was
he second word" forming the subject
# the discourse and prayers. Then was
endered the second IesDohsOry from the
ifice Of TenebIe for Good Friday and a
The third word: Behold thy Son: be-
lold thy mother" John XII :26, %; dis
course, prayers and sixth Tesponsory from
the office of TenebIa for Good Friday !;
N ymn by the choir.
II Fourth word; MY God, my God, why
asst thou forsaken me?" Gatthew xvii:
tH6j; discourse, prayers and The Wounded
III cad of Our Savior" by the choir.
Il Fifth WORD: 81 thirsT (Joh1 xix :28); dis
Ecurse, prayers and first responsory from
hymn by the choir.
Sixth word: ut is consummated" (John
SE:3Q; discourse, prayers, seventh re-
aoonsory from the Office OF Tenebre for
Good Friday, hymn by the choir
Seventh word: Father, into thy hands l
commend my spirit" duke xxiii:46); dis
course, fifth responsory from the Office OF
9enebIe for Good Friday, prayers, "Our
Blessed Savior's Death" (anthem). by the
choir.
Father Neri then delivered & wide appeal
Il the form OF closing discourse, in which
tae merits and promise OF the unique event
. celebrated were impressively r.cited.
The reverend father, In a few eloquent
words, winged with feeling, summed up the
value OF the sacrifice on the cro!s and urged
81 nF fo1I Al,
footsteps OF the central figure IN that sacri-
re. He entreated them TO cruo ~ their un-
.rily affections and selfish des res for the
Bell-benZ Of their fellow men, aud so carry
on the work OF the great reconciliation.
Then, wit change of tone, lie depicted
tie signihe nee OF the sacrifice in the lives
q those coming under its influence. This
ss5ny and cath, he said, were necessary
for the esuFection of the mora life and
carried witt them the germs of future
fory.
The chcir rudered the "Agnus Del" be-
fore the glgation was dismissed with a
lsnediction.
In the prayss peculiar to this special
services are lpee to the FIVE sacred wounds
OF Jesus Christ.
The first pray is to the wound in the
left foot and Is t-ainst sins of stems and
motions; the SET I'd TO the wound in the
right foot and is aejnst sins of words and
actions; the thlrd the wound in the LETT
manu- hk"iuot SINS Z SIGHT ana the other
corporal senses; the fourth to the wound
in the right hand agaist sins of will. mem
DRY and underestimate. the fifth 10 the
wound iu the sacred ide and ia 1irected
against the commission one mortal sin.
After the closing henuiction the neonla
moved round the aisles Harder IN hiss ths
cross exposed TO veneratiO before leaving
AZ there was an immense attendance This
act OF devotion consumed aJng time ard il
was nearly P. NJ. before th,5ig edifce was
emptied.
10 the evening there wa, another i'm
mense attendance at st. IgnalIs Cnurch.
The people stood in all the a. les. and the
space near the doors was Gro Jed at an
early hour.
The service of the "Way OF he Cross,
was performed with more than ordinary
soiemnity, the significance Of tb various
stations" on the road to Calyt being
very marked.
: CAT vesDers the "Pater Noster" ars SAVE
Maria were repeated in low ybss fol
IOWp0 IA