The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1908-04-25
GOOD FRIDAY THE
DAY OF AMUSEMENT
Impressive Features Of Services in
Catholic Churches Church
Movrns the Cruciiixion
Of the Lord.

was held Easter Sunday to COM
memorate the day OF passion and
death OF the Savior In the entire
liturgy OF the church there are no
more impressive features than
those OF this day. The sanctuary
is bare and unadorned. The altar
is stripped OF it, ornaments and
the crucihx alone remains yelled IN
black, six unlighted candles stand
at the altar. When the priests
make their way to the sanctuary
they PROSTATE themselves IN utter
abasemert. On Good Friday the
priest is rather the spokesman and
representative of the congregation
present. They follow and take
part in the various acts OF fepara-
ton he performs, This is the key
to a right understanding TO the
whole function. The services are
divided into tour parts the three
lessons, the solemn prayers, the
alteration Of the cross, the mass of
the presanctihed.
In the first division the ministers
approach the sanctuary in utter
silence. The vestments are black.
On the altar there is neither missal
nor altar cloth. When the minis
ters reach the altar they PROSTATE
themselves in silence. Then they
read the three lessons, two from
the old Testament and one the
passion according to St. John.
| Those lessons are the earliest
forms oil the churchs service.
ANTIQUITY OF SERVICES
The solemn prayers which fol-
low bear evidence o. remote anti
quity. The litany, the eucharistic
prayer and the collect were the
early church forms. In the prayers
OF Good FRIDAY is a good example
OF the collective prayer and the
responsive "Te rogamus audinos. 4"
The alteration Of the cross, was
the third section OF the days
prayers and service. The cele-
biant lays aside his chasuble, the
symbol OF his priestly dignity, and
is first to humble himself. He
receives the veiled cross and stand
ing at the side oil the altar he un.
covers a small part, raising 1t
slightly Tor the people to see and
sings in a low voice Behold the
wood OF the cross on which hung
the salvation OF the world.
MASS or PREsANCIrIFIED
Candles on the altar are lighted
when the mass TOR the presanciti-
ties is said. This is in reverence
Tor the coming presence ot Jesus
Christ. The clergy go in process
sion 10 the chapel OF repose and
bring back to the high altar the
blessed sacrament which has been
reserved in a chaice. During the
procession the choir sings the
"Vevillo Regis.
On this day alone throughout
the year the church suspends the
offering OF the holy sacrifice OF the
mass. When the blessed sacra-
ment is brought TO the altar the
priest bids the people pray and
himself prays aloud, singing the
"Pater Noster.
AS soon as the priest departs the
altar is stripped. The sanctuary
is empty, its light is gone and no
lamp burns in any part OF the
church. The naked cross stands
alone TO proclaim the mourning OF
the spouse Tor the crucihXion OF
her Lord.
EASTER SERVICES
Saturday was "fioly Satur-
day" For a thousand years after
the ioundatloa OF the church this
day was devoted TO prayer and
fasting, in watching the spirit OF
the holy women at the sepulchre
until the morning OF the resurrect-
ion. The service OF the mass that
is now observed on Saturday was
really held on Saturday night eX-
tending TO the resurrection morn
ing. The services are divided into
two sections-the blessing and the
mass. The Saturday service is
held at 7 o'clock a. m.
Easter services are the efful-
gent reawakening aud renewal
after the resurrection. Easter
is the great feast day ot the
church, following the holy week S
PRAYERS and deuotions.