The Cairo bulletin., 1904-03-28

udy tudt ndIhS Tue ueSlHnlnS OF ftOIy
Week in the Catholic and AnGeEcan
churches, and is commemorative of
the day nearly 1900 years ago when
Christ rode into Jerusalem upon the
back of an ass.
To all Christians, that day-Palm
SUNDAYS fraught with the deepest
significance, and there are many Gus
toms. handed down from that day
when our Lord, accompanied by the
shouting thousands, rode unattended
save by those who adored Him into the
Holy City. The scripture says that he
rode upon the back of a she ass. while
the foal trotted beside Him, On every
side and before Him the people crowd,
ed. shouting "Hosanna, Hosanna,"
and the children and others broke
down palm branches from beside the
road and strewed the path with thent
Others waved them in the air, and
thus Jesus, the humble instrument
of mankind's salvation. made His en-
try into Jerusalem, where He was to
die And as one well-known divine
has said, II is a pathetic thing 20
think of that in less than one week,
those same people who cried "Hosan
ma" were crying. Cruelty Him"
The greater number of the Protes.
tant churches solemnize of recognize
this week, but the Lutheran Protest.
ant Episcopal, the church of England
and Roman Catholic churches have
ceremonials and services each day
and begin with Palm Sunday, The
Greek and eastern churches have
ceremonials substantially the same
as that of Latin, In some churches
the first service on Palm Sunday is
marked by the blessing of the Palms
md the distribution of branches
among the congregation, All the An
glican and Catholic churches are dec
grated with palms on that day and
special services ares aid, in Sommem.
1ration of the entry of Christ INTO, Jer-
nsalem
In many of the Episcopal churches
he old custom of carrying the palms
n solemn procession around the nave
If the church to the pealing strains
If some anthem is still followed,
Significance of the Day.
Ever since the early Christian be-
gan to celebrate the day the palm has
BECOME in manner sacred en-
blem. There are two reasons for the
multitude scattering palm branches
before our Lord as He rode along the
road to Jerusalem. One Is that the
roadside was doubtless lined with
p9lms, and their feather fronds offer
ed admirable banners to wave and
were IN abundance The other is that
the palm has ever been the emblem
Of victory The people Of that, day
were ever looking for the coming of
the Messiah. who would rescue and
restore the Jewish race from the
hated dominion of the Roman yoke.
They listened 10 the stories OF the
Nazarene and were told that He, was
the Messiah of the Jews. They were
told that He was coming to Jerusalem
70 claim His kingdom. not knowing
hat that kingdom was the one of Al
mighty God, His Father They looked
to see Him come armed and with a
host of warriors. to wrest the Holy
City from the Romans with the strong /
hand. While somewhat disappointed
at His humble entry. riding as He !
was on an ass, they still believed that
by some miracle His hosts would
arise and lead them 10 victory.
Hence the palm branches. They |
were emblematc of victory, and they
scattered them before Him as before !
conqucring hero.
Holy Week.
Holy Week, which Is begun on Palm /
Sunday, Is a week of prayer and de- !
votion. It was called Holy Week for
the reason that il was the beginning 4
of the end, and in this week Christ I
died on the cross The arly Chris 4
tians called it the Great Week. for
this reason there being SO many holy /
days in it, days observed by the
church. These early Christians OBJ /
served the week with the greatest /
solemnity and strictness. Tertulllan,
Lactantlus and St Chrysotom and I
other ancient writers state that all /
Christians were in the habit OF last /
ing on one meal a day and that OF l
bread. salt and water, taken in the /
evening. Many abstained from all /
food during the week, especially on /
Good Friday and Holy Saturday Dur
ing the Middle Ages it was known as
the Authentic Weew. and in Germany /
and Scandinavia as the Still Week.
One Of the curious observances was /
that of the Tenebrae. or darkness. on
Good Friday. During this celebration /
the churches we're gradually darken.
ed to signify the great darkness that 4
came over the earth at the crucliix-
ion During TINS ceremony ldlSt
candlestick bearing fifteen tapers IS
placed near the altar and disposed IN
the form of triangle. They were
supposed to represent the light OF
Christ and of the prophets who an
His coming. As the psalms
are sung the lights are extinguished
one by one. until only the topmost
remains. This. as It represents