Morris tribune., 1905-04-15
HOLY WEEK
come Interesting and Instructive
Data Furnished by Father
Jones.

Lent is generally called by Catholics,
Ghe molly week. In the Latin Church
IL bears the name of the greater
week, as it did of old among the
Greeks. The Germans call it the
Charwoche, the week of sorrows"
these various names, some glorious
and others sorrowful, are sufficient
indications of the event which the
week commorates; the only one in
the annals of this world which can
fully deserve both titles, and that
which combines within itself a
greater portion of majesty and
dignity, and a larger share of grief
and mourning, than any other could
separately contain. 1t is week
put by with especial conservation
from the course of the year, to
sympathize in our dear Redeemer's
sufferings.
The first day is known by. the name
of Palm Sunday, so called from the
rite then observed, in the Catholic
church, of blessing and distributing
palm Or olive branches, in commora-
ton of what the Jews did when
Jesus entered into Jerusalem. The
only points wherein the service
differs from that Of any other Sunday,
are the blessings of the palms, which
takes place before Mass, and is
followed by procession; and the
chanting in place of the gospel, of the
Passion, according to St. Mathew,
in a peculiar manner.
During the two following days,
there is nothing in the public offices
of the church peculiarly attractive,
though there is vein of rich religious
pathos running thru her liturgy; and
office, or public and private devotions,
prescribed to her ministers turnout
the week. The moment their daily
form of prayer becomes public, it
seizes powerfully on the attention of
all; and this takes place for the first
time on the afternoon, or evening of
Wednesday. The Office, or course of
prayer, daily enjoined bv the church
on her ministers, is divided into
several portions, receiving names
from the hours of day, at which,
anciently, they used to be recited.
The largest portion however, may be
more properly said to belong to the
night, and is subdivided into
"Matins'' and "Lauds"; the first
ordinarily consisting of nine psalms,
and nine lessons from Scripture and
the ancient Fathers; and the latter
of eight psalms or canticles OF a |
more joyful character together with
various hymns, antiphons, chapters
and prayers. Since the custom of re-
citing this portion of the office at
midnight has become confined to
religious communities, it has become
customary to perform it early in the
morning, or by anticipation on the |
preceding evening. The latter is
done in respect of the Mathis in Holy
Week, so that the Mathis of Thurs
dav shall fall on Wednesday evening
and so Of the days ensuing. And |
these are the offices known by the
name Of Tenebrae, or darkness. For
q certain number of candles, placed |
on triangular stand, are by degrees
until mystical dark
ness is produced. These offices are
remarkable for two things. The
first is, part Of the Lamentations Of
Jeremiah sung after the first nocturne,
Or division of these psalms, in Mathis:
Three portions of that feeling elegy
are given to each day; the first being
arranged in such exquisite harmony
as ravishes the senses; the two
after sung by one voice in an infiex-
ON of ancient and moving melody.
The second thing to be noted is the
we'll known music of the Miserere,
which closes the service, leaving on
he soul a solemn impression of har-
1OnIOuS lS0llLS "h1Si 1lO "oAStF'
would adequately describe.
The origin Of the practice of exiting
fishing lights during the Tenebrae is
ost in obscurity. Some writer's in
orm us that all the lower lights on
he triangular candle stick were en-
,lematic of the Apostles and other
disciples of the Savior who at the
period that his sufferings grew to
heir crisis, became terrified at his
Irrest, his huniliations, his condemna-
ion and crucifxion, as well as by the
exhibitions upon Calvary
md in Jerusalem and that the ex-
inction shows the terror and doubts
W which they were overwhelmed;
inf that the Blessed Virgin who is
by the candle upon the
ummit and which is not extinguish-
n alone retained all her confidence
mistaken and with a clear and