The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-07
WITH SONGS OF REJOICING
The Franciscan Fathers Celebrate
the Resurrection.
Impressive Services Held Mt Mount
81. SepuIchre-BIessinE of the PAS
chaI Candle. The View Fire. and the
Water-Eastcr Observance Today.

Filling symbol upon symbol the Fran
cscan Fathers at the Monastery of
Mount st. Sepulchre last night closed
Holy Week in a blaze of glory. with a
joyous ringing of bells. and exultant
chanting Of "Surrcxit Dominus. Alleluja,
Surrexit We're. Alleluia. For them Christ
had really risen, and they proclaimed it
to the world with chimes and songs of
rejoicing.
The rev monastery upon the hill that
oyerlooEs Washington, finished last night
AN observation of Holy Week that was.
in nearly every one of its details. pre-
Cisely similar to the observation which
has been carried on in the Holy Chapel
at Jerusalem for hundreds of years. The
monastery is, as regards its altar and
other arrangements. almost replica of
the church at Jerusalem, and the serv-
ices were carried out during the week in
strict accordance with the established
customs in use in the Holy Land
As the days progressed each service be-
came more fun of sorrow, reaching the
depths of the passion the evening of Good
Friday, when the crucifiXion and burial
of our Lord were typified. Yet the week
of sadness was changed, and came to an
end with rejoicing. in the services last
night in honor of the resurrection.
The offices Of the morning We're impress
siye, and consisted in the blessing of the
holy fire the paschal candle, and the
holy water. 1t was early when the
brown ROBBED priests with their caps and
the white rope dangling from their waists
flied out of the door of the chapel, and
grouped themselves with bowed heads
around the brazier standing on a tripod
just outside of the doorway. From the
smoldering charcoal in the receptacle a
thin smoke rose toward the grey sky.
Father Godfrey. the celebrant of the hour,
intoned a solemn chant, and blessed the
fire.
From the brands several were selected
and placed in a silver censor Incense
was put upon them and blessed, and from
the flame that rose was lighted the Trim
ity candle, a candle having three bodies
twisted into one, yet three wicks, intend
ing to symbolic the unity and individ-
uality of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
As the first wick of the candle was lighted
the celebrant lifted his voice and sang
~r-Lumen Christi. while the assistants,
falling to their knees, answered, Dec
Gratias."
Forming in double file the priests fol-
lowed the bearers of the candle and the
censor. When the procession reached the
middle of the chapel it halted and sec
ond wick of the candle was lighted, the
celebrant singing "Lumen Christi and
the assistants falling to their knees. In
front of the altar. with the same cere-
mony. the third wick was ignited.
From the Trinity candle and its blessed
fire was LIT the enormous Paschal can
die AS he sang the "Exultet" the deacon.
Father Williams. brought together the
wicks Then in the body OF the Paschal
candle he placed five grains of red in
cense to typify the i've wounds in the
body of the Saviour and chanted the ''Ex-
ultet" as he mounted the high rostrum to
the Altar of Calvary. Grouped in circles
below him were the fathers and the young
clerics. To twelve of the young clerics
fell the duty of singing the twelve proph-
ecies. each giving one in his turn.
Following the singing of the prophecies
the procession wound through the aisles of
the church TO the font wherein was the
water to be blessed Dividing the surface
Into four parts with his finger. the cele-
brant uttered the blessing. A handful
from each quarter he threw out onto the
ground, in symbol Of the four rivers that
ran into all parts of the earth from Para
disc
Then taking the Paschal candle he dip
ped 1t into the water. saying: ''Descen-
Diet in hanc plenitudinem Fonts, yirtus
spiritus sancti- Three times he did this
each time immersing the candle deeper
Back again into the church the process
sion went. chanting the Litany of All
Saints. The deacon, subdeacon. and cele-
brant FRUSTRATED themselves completely
before the altar, rising at the words Pee
catores, tie rogamus audi nos" After
DOMINIC white vestmeDts the regular or
der Of the mass was celebrated.
The keynote of the evening celebra ton |
was happiness and aspiration. Lights |
Were lit everywhere. the fathers and
brothers carried torches, and the music |
was bright and cheerful. Mathis was
sung before the door of the Holy Sepul- |
chre, and after the TIE Deum the cele- |
braat. Father Boniface, with the deacon, |
Father William, and the sub-deacon, |
Brother Placidus. entered into it's holy /
precincts. The doors were closed after |
them, and the whole multitude of priests |
and spectators waited in breat hess ex- |
pectation. Before the door. all its gold |
giittering in the light. was held by four
clerics, the embroidered baldachin The |
doors opened quickly, and Father Boni-
face stood forth In the bright glare hold |
ing aloft the Blessed Sacrament
SurreNit Dominus, Alleluia, he cried
with exutation in his tone. and the an |
swer came from every voice I'm the chapel |
Surrexit we're, Alleluia" Christ is risen