The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-24
HOLY week IN MANY LANDS.
Excitement Attending its Ceie-
bratiOn in Europe.
HOW II IS OBSERVED BY THE ROMANS.
The Washing OF the Feet of Thirteen
Poor Priests by the POpe Splendid,
Impressive Ceremonies of the
SpRniardS Scenes in
Gay and sunny Seville.

LONDON, March TO- - People in. America
have Il very faint realization Of the excite
mont attending the celebration of Holy Week
in Europe. This name is given to the last
week Of Lent closing with Easter Sunday
and beginning with Palm Sunday. It is also
called Passion Week, though the Roman and
Greek churche1 apply that name to the pre-
ceding week, commencing with Passion Sun
day. In all the Anglican, Greek and Roman
churches the Easter season is one Of Joy, of
religious feeling, of freedom from the re-
straints of the preceding forty days Of Lent.
/ While in America Christmas-tide has prece-
dcnce in popular esteem, as a season Of fes-
tivity, in Europe the season of Easter is ex-
alted over all other fasts and feasts. The
greater number Of Protestant churches do
not celebrate this week, but its observance is
increasing.
Commencing with Palm Sunday, in which
palm branches are blessed and borne in pro-
cession by the people, to symbolic the ever
| living Life It is designed to commemorate
that day when the people cast palm branches
in the way Of Christ, as he entered into Jeru-
salem. The business Qf furnishing these
palm branches at Rome is held by the de-
scendants OF that sailor Bresca Of San Reno.
who cried out, wet the ropes" as the ODE
lisk in front Of st. Peters was being raised.
On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, the
| TenebrP Tor darken!ng Of the churches to
prehgure the darkness Of the crueihxionD, is
chanted. a huge candelabra, bearing fifteen
candles, disposed in the form Of l triangle.
and representing Christ, his apostles, and the
prophets who loretold his coming, is lighted.
While the psalms are sung, the tapers are ex-
! tnguished one by one, until the topmost one,
representing Christ, only remains. Then this
| is taken down and carried behind the altar,
| during the Miserere after which it is put
back in its place. TO signify the temporary
withdrawing Of Christs light Thursday be-
! ing the anniversary Of the establishment Of
tho eucharist; and of the priesthood Of the
new law, is distinguished by two ceremonies
| of great significance. which take place at the
solemn mass in cathedral churches. The
first is the conservation by the bishop, as
sisted by twelve priests, in full sacerdotal
costumes. Of the oils used in the administrd-
tion Of the sacraments, etc. The next is the
washing Of feet Of twelve poor persons, while
the choir sings st. Johns "Nqadatlp,
aoclH." This day is known az Maunday
Thursday, as baskets or maunds OF food are
brought for distribution to the poor In
Rome, the Pope washes the feet Of thirteen
poor priests, in memory Of the apostles, in.
Guiding st. Paul While the Gloria in e1celsiS
is being chanted on this day, the bells sud
denly break out in joyful peals. and then re-
main silent until the mass Of Holy Saturday
when the Gloria is chanted
! On Good Friday, which Americans will re-
member as the anniversary Of Lincolns
death, the altar is stripped, to signify the
desolation Of the church; the prophecies per-
tanning to Christs sufferings, the passion Of
St. John arc sung, and the procession pro-
ceeds TO the sepulchre whence the host is
brought back and offered to the people for
ladoratiQn, and consumed bv the officiating
officer. On Saturday, the services begin by
the blessing Of the new fire." obtained from
c6nsecrated tiints and steel which are kept in
the churches. The flint symbolze5 Christ
our Rock, and the fire the Holy Ghost The
clergy return in procession singing the Lit
any of the saints and the joyous mass. with
its Alleluias, foretaste Of the resurrection.
IN Paris, especially, and at most Of the
European capitals, the fashionable women
appear in full mourning. Great requiem
masses are produced for the first time. and
solemn and splendid professions and services
prove the steadfastness Of Christs followers
on earth. Russia, as one writer expresses il.
is turned into q vast camp-meeting.
In Spain. for instance, which is the most
intensely Catholic country of the world, there
aremany customs observed, with an intensity.
religious abandon that can be found
nowhere else. In Seville, Spain, for example
the customs Of 800 ycags ago in the celebration
Of Holy Week are st.ll preserved. Thousands
Of foreigners, especially since the ceremonies
at Rome have been clipped Of their importance
and the pcpal seclusion, 60 to Seville to see
these ceremonies in their original form. The
devotional spirit prevails among all classes
to an extent taa5 impresses the strange
strongly. By Good Friday, it reaches its
height, AID then gradually relaxes until the
afternoon Of Easter Sunday, when the bull
fight season is inaugurated amid general re-
joic.ng, and the warm Andalusian nature
gives itself up to every species OF fun and
glyety known among men.
On Palm Sunday, everybody goes to hear
the Passion service chcnted by three priests
in dramatic manner, between the altar and
the Choir Of the most beautiful Gothic cathe-