The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-06
HOLY SATURDAY AND EASTER.
The Services in the Cathedral and
Their Symbolism.

To-day, Holy Saturday, is the last day
of Lent. Formerly no mass was celebrat-
ed on the morning of this day. The faith
full used to keep vigil in the churches till
the commencing of the office at p. IN.
The mass was celebrated about midnight
and it belonged rather to the morning Of
Easter Sunday than to Holy Saturday.
AS years rolled on the custom began of
anticipating the vigil office, the words re-
naming the same. This explains the joy
that the history of the resurrection is
sung at the Gospel. also the majestic
language of the collect: o God, who didst
illumine this most holy night with the
glories of the Lords resurrection.
The ceremonies begin with the blessing
of the new fire struck from flint, with
which a triple candle is lighted by a dea-
con, who chants three times, Tumen
Christi" Then the paschal candle is
blessed by the deacon, who fixes in 1t
five grains of incense TO recall the five
wounds of the Savior. Twelve prophecies
are then sung and afterward the bap
usmal font is blessed
The water is scattered TO the four quar-
ters of the world, indicating the catho-
licity of the church, the Bishop breathes
on the water in the form of cross and
plunges the paschal candle thrice into IL,
and, lastly, few drops of oil and chrism
are poured to signify the union of Christ,
the Amounted King, with His people. The
litany of the saints is sung while the
clergy lie PROSTATE before the altar, and
at the end the altar is decked
with flowers purple vestments are put off,
and white vestments-the sign of joy are
donned AT the Gloria the bells are rung
and the organ-silent for two days-peals
forth it's joyous tones, and the triumphant
strains of the Halleulia peal out after
the epistle.
At the end of the mass vespers are sung,
and while the great exalting cantrite of
the Blessed Virgin "Magnihcat Anima
Mea Dominum." is sung, the Bishop in
eenses the altar, signifyng that the pray
ers of the faithful ascend like incense in
the sight of the Lord. At noon the
great bell also silent for two days, rings
out the signal for the great Easter an
them, Regina Coel," prociaiming to the
Christian world that once again, after
almost 1900 years, the anniversary of the
greatest of all feasts-the Resurrection
of the Lord-has come to brapg peace and
joy, and hope of immortality to all man.
kind.
The Ri. Rev. Bishop Kelley will Off
ciate at the Cathedral, assisted by Rev.
Fathers Kennedy, Boyd, Hennessy, Reil-
ly and Carey.
At first mass in the Cathedral on Eas-
ter Sunday morning, all the children of
the Sacred Heart and the children of
Mercy will approach holy communion IN a
body, prior to their solemn enrolment at
vesper service in the evening. The last
mass at the Cathedral on Easter Sunday
will be a solemn pontifical high mass. Cele-
brant Rt. Rev. Bishop Kelley, d. D.;
assistant priest. Rev. Father Kennedy;
Deacon, Rev. Father Hennessy; sub-dea.'
con, Rev. Father Carey; master of cere-
MONIES Master Walter Sullivan; censor
bearer, Master John Gleason; acolytes of
mass. Masters James Houlihan and John
Gleason insignia bearers, Joseph Kearne,
M. Mccarthy, John MCGEE, Andrew Am
brose and Timothy Joyce. At this mass
the Bishop will bestow the papal bless
ing upon all those present.