St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-04-14
BLESSING FIRE AND WATER
Obscuring Draperies Removed
From Sacred Pictures and
Statues.
ARCHBISHOP CELEBRANT.
Appearance Of Churches Less
Gloomy Than on Good
Friday.

Holy Saturday, sacred to the bur-
ial of our Lord, was observed at the
cathedral yesterday morning by
services at an unusually early hour.
At half-past was the annual bless
ing of the fire and water. The gen
eral appearance of the interior was
somewhat less gloomy than on Good
Friday. The obscuring draperles
had been removed from about the
sacred pictures and statues, and the
few candles on the altar were OF the
usual waxen tint instead of being al
most black, as on the melancholy
day preceding.
Archbishop Ireland was again the
celebrant, assisted by the same cler-
gy as during the remainder of the
week, namely, Father Heffron as as
sistant priest; Fathers Bosch and
Woods as assistant deacons; Rev.
William Colbert and Rev. Mr.. Be
SAINT as subdeacons. The sixty stu
dents from ST. Paul's seminary were
at the choir, taking an active part
in the services under the lead of
Rev. Mr. Seymour. Their vestments
are violet colored, expressive still of
grief, yet a degree less sad than on
the very day of the passion.
At the throne in the sanctuary is
placed the new fire, consisting of
charcoal lighted within silver
chatting dish. All the lights about
the sanctuary are eXtinguished.
Over the charcoal fire the archbish-
OPP reads a prayer of blessing, and
from this fire are then relighted the
various candles and the sanctuary
lamp. The latter is that cherished
beacon which signals the steady
and constant succor of Divine for
givenesS and grace. Every one has
observed this light burning wher-
ever Catholic church is found. In
the full sunshine of summers day,
in the vague light of the early morn
Ing, in
THE DARKEST HOUR
of winters night, high in the air
before the altar testifying to the
presence of the blessed sacrament,
these mild rays attract the eye to
comfort Of the Savior.
Upon the gospel or left-hand
side of the high altar (to a person
facing it, is seen an immense can
die. At least four feet high and six
inches thick, it rests within a tall
bronze candlestick. Such is the
paschal candle. 1t is now lighted
as especially condensing the whole
sentiment of the rekindled fire.
This fire." says st. John Chrys-
ostom, represents Christ rising to
kindle in our hearts a new spiritual
fire of his love-"
In the side of the great candle are
Embedded five grains of franklin
cense, symbolizing the five wounds
of our crucif1ed Lord. The paschal
candle receives it's name from the
Jewish paschal supper, which was
eaten at about the time of the cell
ebration of Easter This candle will
be lighted at all the masses and
services of the church for the next
seven weeks until Pentecost or
Whitsunday
- LIZ "i0''S'iiiS VI lHe water
The baptsmal font is placed before the
altar, and over its contents are re-
)eated the solemn prayers of the arch
bishop. The water contained therein
s to be used for all baptisms that
AXE place in the church until Pente-
cost. AT the same time is blessed a
arg additional sum Of water to be
given to the people IF the church.
Throughout the day this water was
constantly being distributed to the
faithful, who are thus provided with a
vial of holy water to be employed in
their home devotions. In former
times, the catechumens, or converts
We're baptized upon Holy Saturday, and