The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-27

Commencing today the most solemn
week of the church year will be inau-
gurated-a week so solemn and so full
of significance that even those persons
who are connected with several re-
lieious denominations that do rot off,
cially recognize many Of the special fasts
occurring during the week are influence
ed to a large degree by that solemnity.
This week. the last before Easter. is
called Holy Week and follows Palm
Sunday. II is often enormously termed
Passion Week" but that name right
fully belongs TO the week Succeeding
Passion Sunday-the preceding one.
Holy Week was called in the carry
Christian ages the Great Week. b.
cause Of the nightly events IL com
memorates, the events which transpired
curing the passion preceding the cruel
fxiCn of the Christ. the anniversary Of
which is Good Friday
Week of Fast.
Tertunlan. Lactanius. and Chrysys-
tom and other writer's among the early
fathers meation the fact that during
the week persons would fast. taking
one meal Of bread, salt. and water in
the evening. while many abstain from
food during the entire week, and a stilI
greater number would eat nothing dur
ing Good Friday and the Holy Satur-
day. In the Middle Ages the week was
called the Authentic Week" and in
Germany, Denmark, and the Scandi-
navian peninsula il Is known as "Stiu
Week"
The greater number OF Protestant
churches do not make any observation
OF this week. but the Lutheran Church.
the Church Of England and the Protes-
tant Episcopal Church have special serv-
ices for each day, and the whole week
is observed with great soIemnity.
In the Roman Catholic Churches sol
emnizaation is very marked Music Of
the most mournfuI sort is given after
Holy Thursday. the affairs are stripped
Of their ornaments. and dark draping is
used for the statues and pictures. An
the church services during the week
breathe the spirit Of mourning. but to-
ward the latter part the gloom is most
intense.
Palm Sunday Observance.
Palm Sunday. which marks the com
mcncement Of this week. IS SO called 20
the triumphant entrance
of Christ TO Jerusalem. when waving Of
palm branches was one OF the marks OF
his welcome. In the Catholic Church.
and many of the Episcopal churches.
palms are blessed and distributed 10 the
people. These palms are In many cases
kept throughout the year.
This custom Of blessing palms cannot
be traced. but it Is very old one. The
FIRST writer Of the West who refers 20
10 IS the venerable Bede. and il is Ger
tain il was done in the seventh cen
fury. a special service Is found in the
Icman Catholic missal, and also In the
Green euchologies for the blessing Of
palms and olive branches. but In many
where these are not procur-
able, other trees are blessed instead.
Procession Of Palms.
IN many churches a procession Of per
sons carrying branches Of trees is form
ed. aald appropriate hymns are sung In
the Greek ChurciFthe Book OF the Cos
Deis is borne In front. and I'm some
Roman Catholic countries OF the West.
a priest, or occasionally a lay figure.
was led at the head. mounted uDon am
ass In commemorauon of the entrance
10 Jerusalem. "a custom sJill followed in
spain and Spanish South America.
Buring the mass following the palms
are held by the people and afteryyard
hey are carried 10 their homes. AL
.,omc The Procession Of the palms. iu
ghIch the Pope is carried, Is one of the !
rost picturesque ceremonies cf Holy /
week.
Days Of Week
The chief days in the week are spy
Wednesday. Maundy or Holy Thursday /.
GOOD Friday and Holy Saturday. The /
irst Is named as a commemora- OF the 1
reachery Of Judas Iscariot in betraying /
as Master. as II is expected that at tins !