The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-08
BY Rev. J. M. cIeary.

BY Rev. J. M. Cleary.
The Christian church has always OBJ
served its great festival commemorate
ing the resurrection of the Savior, on
Sunday. every early in the morning,
the first days of the week. Mark
empty sepulcher. For this reason, Eas-
ter is a movable feast. It cannot be
assigned to some particular date of the
month, like Christmas.
According to the Gregorian calendar,
the one at the present time in use, prac-
tically turnout christendom, the festival
of Easter Is observed on the first Sun
day after the full moon, which happens
upon, or next after March 81. If this
Easter day is the first Sunday follow
ing.
" Gregorian Calendar.
This calendar, perfected by Pope
Gregory XIII, who was elected to the
generally adopted in 1882 Russia, and
| some Of the orientals still cling to the
Julian calendar, introduced by julius
Cesar, after consultation with Greek as
tronomers and the Roman scholars of
his day. In the course of time this
Julian calendar was found to be de-
fective. At the general council of Nice,
1925 AID, it was resolved that Easter
should be solemnized on the Sunday
following the first full moon after the
| vernal equinox, which was then sup
Julian year contains 1854 days. In
consequence. of this inaccuracy, the
vernal equinox had changed its place
from March 81 to March 10 in the six
teenth century. The Gregorian system
| has found the correct solution Of all
complications.
Memorial of Passover.
The great Christian festival Of Eas-
ter was solemnized not only for the pur-
I pose of emphasizing the triumph Of the
crucifed Master over death and the
grave. but also as a memorial Of the
EChristian passover, the atonement
wrought by the death Of Jesus Christ
upon the cross. It is therefore called
Pasch, or the Paschal season, as the
term recalls the ''passing over of the
destroying angel when he smote the
Egyptians and spared the children Of
Israel. EXODUS xii)
In the Teutonic languages the festi-
val is called Oster, or Ostern, from the
name Of the goddess Of spring in leu
tonic mythology, Ostara, as it is the
greatest feast of all the Christian year,
and kept with such joyous solemnity
during the season Of spring in Teutonic
lands.
| During the middle ages, some lively
discussion was INDUCED in relative to
the celebration of Easter. On account
of the complications arising from the
inaccuracies of the Julian calendar,
there was abundant occasion for discus.
sion. Because of the independence and
freedom with which this matter was
discussed by the Irish church, some
7 have inferred that the Catholic church
in Ireland was independent of the pope
and of the church Of Rome.
Season Of Festivity.
The adoption of calendar, or the
regulation of the time at which any
movable feast Of the church should
be held, is not vital problem of faith
or of Christian morals. The freedom
with which matter of this kind was
discussed is striking evidence Of the
independence and activity of the human
mind at the period in question. as well
as of the general intelligence that pre-
: vailed.
The Easter festival is celebrated with
, greater solemnity in the Roman Catho
lie church, than any other festival OF
the Christian year. The church teaches
the doctrine of the resurrection OF
Jesus as of divine faith. eff Christ
be not risen from the dead, our faith is
vain, is the keynote of the Catholic
' faith. He is risen, as he said,' re
vcals the triumph of the cross over the
malice Of wickedness. Christ is the
resurrection and the life