The times., 1901-04-07
WITH SONGS OF REJOICING
The Franciscan Fathers Celebrate
the Resurrection.

Impressive Services Held at Mount
81. SepuIchre-BIesSinE Of the Pas
chaI Candle. the New Fire, and the
Wnter-Eastcr Observance Today.
Puing symbol upon symbol the Fran
ciscan Fathers at the Monastery OF
Mount ST sepulchre last night closed
Holy Week in q blaze of glory with "A
joyous ringing Of bells. and eNutant
chanting Of "SurreNit Domiuus, Alcluja,
Surrexit We're. AUeiuia For them Christ
had really risen and they proclaimed 1t
to the world with chimes and songs Of
rejoicing.
The rev monastery upon the hill that
overlooks Washington, finished last night
au 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 a 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 crucihxion and burial
Of our Lord were typified Yet the week
of sadness was changed. and came 10 an
end with rejoicing. in the services last
night III honor of the resurrection.
. The offices of the morning We're impress
siye. and consisted in the blessing of the
holy hTe the pascha candle, and the
holy water. 1t was early when the
brown robed priests with their caps and
the white rope dangling from their waists
tiled out Of the door of the chapel, and
grouped themselves with bowed heads
around the brazier standing on tripod
lust outside of the doorway. From the
sr7olderins charcoal in the receptacle a
tlin 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 censer incense
was put upon them and blessed and from
the fame that rose was lighted the IrIH-
ity candle, a candle having three BODIES
twisted into one. yet three wicks, intend
ing to symbolic the unity and indlNid-
uaIity of Father Son. and Holy Ghost.
As the first wick Of the candle was lighted
the celebrant lifted his voice and sang
l-flT
falling to their knees, answered, Dec
Gratias
Forming in double file the priests fol-
lowed the bearers of the candle and the
censer 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 PaschaI
candle he placed five grains Of red in
cense to typify the i've wounds in the
body OF the Saviour and chanted the ''EN-
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 ali parts OF the earth from Para-
disc.
Then taking the PaschaI candle he dip
ped Il into the water. saying. ''Descen-
det in hanc plenitudinem Fonts, virtus
spiritus sancti." Three times he did this.
each time immersng the candle deeper
Back again into the church the process
sion went. chanting the Litany Of All
Saints. The deacon, subdeacOn, and cele-
brant prostrated themselves completely
before the altar. rising at the words Pee
catores, te rogamus audi nos After
dOnninE white Vestments the regular or
der Of the mass was celebrated.
The keynote of the evening celebration
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 Te Deum. the cele-
brant, Father Boniface, with the deacon,
Father William. and the sub-deacon,
Brother Placidus entered into its holy
precincts The doors were closed after
them, and the whole multitude of priests
and spectators waited IN bTeathless eX-
pectation. Before the door, all its gold
glittering 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.
''SurreXit Dominus. Alleluia. he cried.
with eXultatiOn in his tone, and the an
swer came from every voice IN the chapel
.'SurreXit we're, Alleluia' Christ Is risen