Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-26
PALM SUNDAY SERVICE
OBSERVANCE OF THE DAY IN
LOCAL CHURCHES.
Beginning Of Holy Week-Program in
Commemoration Of Events Pre-
ceding the Crucifxion.

Tomorrow will be Palm Sunday, the first
day of the most solemn week of the church
year. when even those persons who are not
connected with the sacred commemora-
ton of the events just preceding the resur-
rection of the Christ are influenced by the
general atmosphere of solemnity. Accord
ing to custom, the churches of this city
will, in some measure observe the week,
the Catholic, Episcopal and Lutheran
churches with appropriate services each
day.
Holy week was called in the early Chris
tan ages the Great Week." because of
the mighty events 1t commentaries,
the events (which TRANSFERRED during
the passion preceding the crucifixion of the
Christ, the anniversary of which is Good
Friday. Tertullian, Lactanius, Crysostom
and other writer's among the early
fathers mention the fact that during the
week persons would fast, taking one meal
OF bread, salt and water in the evening,
while many abstained from food during the
entire week, and still greater number
would eat nothing during Good Friday and
the Holy Saturday In the middle ages the
week was called the Authentic Week" and
in Germany. Denmark and the Scandina-
Wan peninsula it is known as Still Week
By Whom Observed.
The greater number of Protestant
churches do not observe this week but the
Lutheran Church, the Church of England
and the Protestant Episcopal Church have
special services for each day, and the whole
week is observed with great solemnity
In the Roman Catholic churches soleTn-
nization is very marked. Music of the most
mourniui sort is given, the affairs are
stripped of their ornaments, and dark drap-
ing is used for the statues and pictures
All the church services during the week
breathe the spirit of mourning but toward
10 Hct int
Palm Sunday, which marks the COM
mencement of this week, is so called to
commemorate the triumphant entrance Of
Christ to Jerusalem, when waving of palm
branches was one of the marks of His well
come. In the Catholic Church and many of
the Episcopal churches palms are blessed
and distributed to the people. These palms
are IN many cases kept throughout the
year.
Blessing the Palms.
This custom of blessing palms cannot be
traced, but it is a very old one. The first
writer of the west who refers to it is the
venerable Bede. and it is certain 1t was
done In the seventh century. special
service is found in the Roman Catholic mis-
sal, and also in the Greek euchologies for
the blessing of palms and olive branches
out IN many countries where these are not
procurabie other trees blessed instead.
In many churches a procession of persons
carrying branches of trees is formed and
app opfiate hymns are sung In the Greek
Church the Book of the Gospels is borne in
front, and in some Roman Catholic coun-
tries of the west a priest, or occasionally
lay Inquire, was led at the head, mounted
upon an ass. in commemoration of the en-
trance to Jerusalem, a custom still followed
In Spain and Spanish South America
During the mass following the palms are
held by the people, and afterward they are
carried to their homes. At Rome the pro-
cession of the palms. in which the pope is
carried, is of the most niptureco,1a oar
emonies of Holy Week
The chief days in the week are Spy We'd
nesday, Maundy or Holy, Thursday Good
Friday and Holy Saturday