Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-27
LAST DAYS OF LENT
PenitentiaI Season in Churches
Drawing to Close
WITH SOLEMN CEREMONIES
Devotions Appropriate to Biblical I'm
portance Of Week.
MUCH RELIGIOUS ENTHUSIASM
Programs Arranged for Several
Special Exercises-Easter Usually
Marks Awakening Of Spring.
MUCH RELIGIOUS ENTHUSIASM

tential season the churches Of washington
with practical unanimity, observe the epocn
with solemn ceremonies Of a portentous
character, No period in the churches Is
filed with greater significance. nor are any
services more pregnant Of meaning than
those prescribed for the last Few Gays Oh
Lent Such is particularly true OF the
Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Episcopal
churches, while large number OF the other
denominations hold devotions peculiarly ap-
propriate to the spirit AMI biblical impor-
lance Of the week. In song and sermon the
incidents eliminating in the prorouno tras-
sdy on the hill of Calvary are recounieo
Neither time nor circumstance mas Wiln-
cred, it is thought, the religious enthusiast"
of Christians. ,.,u,
Reginning this evening the Catholc
churches of Washington VIII onserxe a
solemn Office, commonly -caiied tenepiae,
which is ranged under the titles OF Mauhoy
Thursday, Good Friday and Holy SATURDAY,
being the mathis and lauds assisneu "
those days. The name OF teneorae Is syen
from the circumstance OF extlnsuisnddhI e.
during the course of 1t, all the cahulee
which are prepared in the sanctuary Tor the
ceremony The rites of the churcn upon
these three days declare concern LOT .as
sufferings of the Redeemer, End i ds nsaims
No HYMNS of divine praise are sung, anu ho
"Dominis vobiscum'' is said to ask piessiis.
Six candles placed on the altar anu hh.sei
candles placed on the epistle side, all ouF f.
inc at the beginning of the office, signify
the lights of faith preached by the prophets
of Jesus Christ. One by one THESE c 20 ths
are extinguished, at stated parts OF Tue
office and each feature bears lts own les-
son. But the fifteenth candle. which repre-
sents the Light of the World, Is only nIo-
den for time back of the aita[ anu az -
ward brought out again, sun puil li ~
signify that though Christ, according 10
His humanity, died and was laid III Sc
pulcher He was always awe.
Institution of the Eucharist.
Thursday is observed by several of the de-
nominations to commemorate the institution
of the eucharist, being the day of the saw
ior,s last supper 1t is frequently called
q bsolution Thursday because the sentence
of absolution was then pronounced over the
public penitents Thousands or Eplsco-
palians and Lutherans, as Wen as Ca'ilo
lies will receive communion Ihursuay, do
well as the other days OF the Week, fe1
being arranged at convenient Ao"AS
those who SO desire ,,o,
The alteration of the Savior In the piesseu
sacrament Thursday takes on more IMAM
ordinary profound and picturesque aspect.
ReautifulIy decorated repositories are set up
on the side affairs of all Catholic churcnes,
and there the faithful visit. one OF ti'e
obligations in the Catholic Church mas
reference to the day, when all Cathoilcs
are supposed to make three visits to as
manv different churches 1t is a practice
that is universally observed. The more de,
yout sometimes visit all OF them; some "
the churches will remain open all night u
permit a more extended alteration.
At st. Aloysius Church.
At St. Aloysius Church there will be an
elaborate observance Of the devotion, unoer
the personal direction OF Rev. EDWARD r.
Fink, S. j., the pastor of the church Father
oP sol
mass at 10 o clock in the morning, with Rev.
Richard O'Brien, s. j., subdeacon. There
will be a procession to the lower church,
where the repository erected by the brothers
and sacristan Of the church VIII nUid .ne
sacred host There the faithful Will nave
an opportunity to watch and pray all Gay
and all night. the hours from y CLOCK IN
the evening until 5 o'clock the next morn
ing being reserved for men exclusively.
Father Fink and State Deputy Francis T.
Sheehy of the knights of Columbus have
extended an invitation to the members Oh
the order to spend at least one hour In the
church during that period. every memper
of tine Knights of Columbus In the District
received an invitation to signify by writing
the most convenient hour that he could
attend, and there Is said to have been
very large response.
On Good Friday the bloody sacrifice of
Jesus Christ is commemorated In solemn
psalm and tract. The three hours passion
of Christ will be preached ana sung IN
Catholic. Lutheran and Episcopal churches,
and at the New Church and other edihces
services will also be held. The three hours
agony of the Savior Is supposed TO nave
lasted from II o'clock to 3 o'clock In the
a fternoon, and, therefore, the Christian
churches usually set their hours OF service
within that time. In the evening at many
churches sermons will be preached on the
ma ssion, and at ST. PauPs Lutheran Church,
Rev John T. Huddle. pastor, an oratorio,
1.-The Crucifxion," will be sung. The choir
of st. Thomas Episcopal Church., Rev Dr..
er's ..The Crucifixion." In Catholic churches
Good Friday morning the mass of the pre-
sanctitied will be said and there Will be
generation of the cross, and In the AFTER
noon and evening there will, as usual, be
the stations Of the cross.
Blessing Of the New Fire.
Holy Saturday will witness the blessing
of the new fire, the paschal candle and the
baptismal font in Catholic churches.
Easter marks the grand finale of the
Lenten season. Concentration OF the day
of redemption brings a song OF JOY ana
gladness to the Christian heart. The spirit
of the day permeates to every quarter OF
the Christian world and is celebrated with
an eclat and ceremony that apparently
know no bounds. Marking as 1t usually
does the awakening of spring, the season
is propitious for reJuvenation OF Christian
impulses and resolves. New acts of contri-
of the Master are made. and as further
earnest of a resolve to walk In new ana
better ways the practice has grown with the
ages to dress in new rainment Tor the DAY.
The present being time Of prosperity and
plenty in the land and the religious spirit
of the race vigorous, it is thought that the
forthcoming Easter Sunday will not only
be notable from the devotional standpoint,