The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-29
PALM SUNDAY TO-DAY
The Occasion Will B, Appropriately
Celebrated in the Catholic Church.
A BIT OF ANCIENT HISTORY
This Is the Beginning of Holy Week
Which Precedes Easter-The
Programme as Announced
by Father Allaeys.

To-day is Palm Sunday, and every
Catholic family attending high mass
will receive a leaf of palm, which car
ries with 1t, according to belief. a rich
and powerful blessing The custom is
of ancient origin. There is evidence
that the feast of the palms was observ-
ed in the Orient as early as the fifth
century. The procession is recorded in
an "Ordo Officie," says Britannica,
both in Greek and Latin communions
of the tenth century.
The procedure as il is celebrated in
the Catholic churches is a striking GER
emonial, which is held at the beginning
of high mass.
More than 1000 branches of palm,
shipped from the sunny South, are
stacked in front of the altar this morn
ing.
The anthem "Hosanna" will be sung
by the choir, the Rev. Father Allaeys
says the collect and reads the lesson
from Exodus XIV, or from Matthew vxi.
The branches of palm are then bless
ed. with prayer and aspersion, and af-
terward they are handed to the devout,
who sing hymns as they are distrib-
uted
In Catholic countries the communi-
cants form in procession and follow the
priest, who leads all out doors and
through the street for a circuit; thence
door. Two or four of the singers enter
the door, but close 1t behind them.
then, facing the procession, sing two
lines of the hymn, Gloria, laus ct hon.
or" which are repeated by the process
sion outside. The priest knocks three
times on the door with the end of the
cross he carries, and then all pass into
the church. when mass is sung. The
congregation carry home the palms,
and treasure them throughout the
year
The basis of the custom is thus de-
scribed by the authorities:
1t is called Palm Sunday in memory
of the triumphant entry of Christ into
Jerusalem, when He was received by
the devout people with palms; for
which reason the church to-day plesses
palms with which a solemn procession
is held.
Through the blessing of the palms,
the church desires its members to pro-
cure new graces and to impart new les
sons. The prayers are for the protec-
ton in body and soul of those who
carry the palms with devotion; to bless
the dwellings into which they are
brought, to free them from all misfor-
tune and shelter them with His hand.
The palms represent the victory of Je-
sus over the prince of darkness and are
typical that those who fear them may
confessing. walk in Christs footsteps
into the heavenly Jerusalem.
The knocks at the church door at the
close of the procession signify that un-
til Jesus Christ came heaven was shut
to mankind, but is now opened by the
triune God, the Father, Son and Holy
Ghost.
Among the hymns which are sung in
this procession and which have refer
ence to the entry of Christ into Jeru-
salem the follow ing deserves particular
attention as the foundation for a very
pretty Palm Sunday story. These are
the words of it:
ITO Thee, o Christ. be glory, praises
loud;
To thee Hosanna. cried the Jewish
crowd.
We Israels Monarch. David's Son pro-
claim
Thou contest, blest King, in Gods most
holy name.