Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-08
HOLY WEEK AND ITS RELIGIOUS
SIGNIFICANCE.

Today palm Sunday Is popular day in
the Christian world. 1t takes its name from
the ceremony of distributing palms or other
green boughs 70 honor the triumphant entry
OF the Savior into Jerusalem five days before
His crucifxlon. At the late morning service
IN Roman Catholic and certain Protestant
churches palms viii be distributed to the
faithful as mark of the homage they bear
TO the Savior
AS the first day Of holy week, which IS
conseCrated to the Savor's sufferings and
death, Palm Sunday is considered u partic-
ularly important day.
At the mass in Roman Catholic churches
the history of the passion is recited or sung
and when the circumstances permit the
mass IS chauted by the Ciergymel, one Of
whom takes the part of the evangelist or
narrator. another that of the synagogue and
II third that Of Jesus Christ
Wednesday. Thursday and Friday Of holy
week the Office OF tenebrae, which consists
Of the mathis and l8uds of the last three
days, is recited or Chanted. during which
fourteen lights. mounted on a triangular
Candestick. are extinguished one by one,
after each psalm leaving Ony the one light
ed al the summit Also a. the end of every
second verse one of the lights on the altar
Is put out. TIL all are eNtnguished. This ex-
tinguishment of the lights tyIines the
abandonment of Christ during His passion
The Savior is represented by the lighted
n.
during the concluding psalm or "hiserere"
is taken from the triangular stand and con-
Cealed behind the altar until a noise is
made by the chaDteTs NJ the end Of the of
fee. intended 20 signify the convulsed state
OF nature at the death Of Christ when IL is
brought forth again and replaced on the
caHclestick as a reminder TO the faithful
that the divinity Of Christ was never sepa-
rated from His humanity.
Mauudy Thursday is the day set a1part
for the commemoration OF the SaYior's last
supper, when lie Instituted the eucharist
on this day only one mass Is said that OF
the holy eucharist. as expression OF 10y
and gratitude for that Institution, though
another time, During the Gloria of the
mass on this day the bells are Tuug for the
last time until Holy saturday.
Christ CrUcjdeG is the great object that
engrosses the attention of all Christian
churches on Good Friday, and lessons and
tracts are read 70 tell of the mystery of the
redemption The passion X sung and pray
ers are offered up for all sorts OF persons,
as an evidence that none are excluded from
the SURFACES Of Christianity
Holy Saturday IS consecrated to the men,
ory OF Christ Ia the sepulcher He is repre-
scented as coming out Of the grave and tri-
umphing over death by resurrection In the
catholic churches the affairs, deprived of
their ornaments on Maundy Thursday are
again clothed with them, and a new fire is
blessed to illuminate them. The paschal
candle Is blessed. and its lighting IS a repre-
Sentatlon OF His rising again 70 a new life
and the lighting OF the lamps and other
candles a1terWard is meant to teach the
faithful that the resurrection of the Head
WILL be followed by that OF the members.
hoiy week gives way TO the first and most
important OF Christian Observation-Disclosures
Christs passion is commemorated with
teSrs and works of penance by the faithful
only the more toyfuliy to celebrate the mys-
terry OF the resurrection