The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-03-31
SOLEMN SERVICES.
C0mmemoration of the
Passion of Christ.
THE KISSING OF THE CROSS.
Special Services to Be Held at Catholic
and Episcopal Churches in the
Day and Evening.

The ceremonies attendant upon the COM
memoration of the Last Supper of Our Lord
and the conservation of the Blessed Sacra-
ment was observed in all the Catholic
churches yesterday.
The mass yesterday was that OF the Holy
Eucharist, and is subject OF joy and
Thanksgiving, expressed by the ringing of
the bells and the white color of vestmentS
worn by the celebrant.
After the Gloria In Excelss the bells are
silent during the rest of the day, all day
Good Friday and Holy Saturday, until the
| recurrence Of the same hymn on the last
mentioned day, when they all peal forth
again. This is intended to honor the Won
derful silence of our Savior during his pas
sion and to express the astOnishment and
mourning of the church at his death.
The blessed sacrament is removed from
The principal altar TO a small side altar that
the Tenebrae commenced on Wednesday
evening may be continued without any dis
play of pOmp or magnifcence.
This Ienebrae is a solemn Office" said
priest yesterday.
THE rites of the church on MGunday
Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday
declare her concern and trouble for her Re
deemer's sutferings and the sins of men.
"She lays aside every manifestation of
joy aud festivities.
The sacred doxology is omitted at the
end of the Psalms. No hymns of divine
praise are sung nor is the DOminus VObis-
cum said.
The six candles on the altar and the fifteen
candles on the epistle side, all burning at
| the beginning Of the office. signify the lights
of faith preached by the prophets and
Jesus Christ, of which faith, the fuudnmen-
tai principle, is tho mystery of the blessed
Trinity represented by the Triangular
candlestck."
f..
the churches were Invested of all their cover
ings.
To-day there will be no mass and no sacri-
fee offered up, as the priest receives the
sacred host, which he had cnnsecrated the
day before, 80 that in the Office performed.
instead of the mass. bare REPRESENTATION
Of the passion is gwen.
Such lessons and tracts as contain predic-
! tiOns of Christs coming redemption and
types of his immOlatiOn on the cross are
read, following which is read history of
| the passion as related by St. John, to show
how the law and the prophets were verified
by the gospel.
TIE prayers of the faithful are offered up
| for ali sects. creeds and persons. None are
! excluded from the suffrages of the church
on this day.
The next thing is the alteration of Christ
cruclhed by priests and people and the kiss
ing of the cross.
This veneration of the cross is as ancient
as Christianity itself.
1t is not to the frail materials of the cross
alteration is PAID, but to him who, on it,
offered the sacrifice of Precipitation. After
| the ceremony the priest brings back to the
altar the body Of the host with the same
soemuity as it WAS carried thence on
! Thursday. and finishes the Office by partak-
| ing of the host himself.
The priest and his assistant are clothed in
| black VeStmentS.
They 60 10 the altar without lights or ins
| cPnse.
The three lessons are then read together
with the tracts, following which is medita-
! ton and prayer.
After which is sung the versicle "Crux
| F.delis," with the hymn "Pange linsua
| glorioso."
| AT vespers the "Pater Noster" and Ave
| Maria" are said in a low voice, followed by
the same prayers as on Thursday night.
AT S. Ignatius Church and the cathedral
! the services to-day will be unusually SOL
| emn. particularly at St. lgnatius. where ex-
| tenslYe preparations are being made to &C.
! commodate the vast thrOng that annually
| attend the ceremonies, which begin at the
! regular time.
| A choir composed OF over forty voices
l will render the music
Al all the other Catholic churches the
usual services for the day viii be observed
| AT the various Episcopal churches extern
! slve preparations are being made to fttngly
/ observe the day.
At St Luke's Church the vested choir of
! forty-slX voices will sing Mt the evening
service Stalner's cantata The Crucifxion."
George J. Brewer, the organst and choir
master, has things perfectly arranged.
Walter Campbell will sing the bass and
| w. j. Kelly viii render the tenor solos.
At the Church OF the Advent one of the
most impressive services ever held will be
undertaken. the choir viii render Ros-
sInrs "Stabat Mater" with organ, piano
and orchestral accompaniment.
Mrs. l.. Abbey will lead the sopranos,
Miss NJ. Coney the altos, ID. NJ. Jones and
! SignOr Stantini the tenors ard j. c. Hughes
vii be the leader Of the bassoS.
The full church choir will be in attend
/ ance.
The decorations at the various churches
in the way of flowers, etc, are very modest
all around.
Great preparations are being made for
| Easter SUNDAY az all the chnrehes