The Washington herald., 1908-04-19
MEANING OF EASTER
Elaborate Preparation for
Observance of Day Here.
SERVICES IN ALL CHURCHES
Songs and Flowers and Sermons
Mark the Worship by Protestant
Nations CaDitaI-Interesting Cere-
mOny of Mystic significance.

Glad Easter morn IS here, and the lily
and the birds Of spring, and all the
beauty Of nature unite in the divine ac
claim-Christ is risen.
smybolical of the Resurrection is the
brightness of the landscape at this sea-
son of the year-the budding Of fairest
flowers, the sweet scented air-all typi-
flying the joy of the day. its holy teach
ings. and its promises TO mankind.
Protestant and Catholic churches, with
songs and flowers and sermons observe
Easter in elaborate manner to-day. the
programmes. many of them extensive.
having been in preparation for weeks.
Especially arranged programmes Of
music have been rehearsed. and the
ehurchgoers this morning viii enjoy the
festivals of song.
Interesting Ceremony.
An interesting ceremony, Of mystic sig
nifieanee, takes place IN the Catholic
Church on the vigil Of Easter-the bless
ing of the Paschal Candle
This huge candle, blessed on Holy Sat
urday. stands in the sanctuary TO the gos-
pei side of the main altar. during the
entire Paschal season, and Is lighted each
Sunday from Easter 10 the Feast ef the
Ascension, when it is extinguished at the
reading Of the gospel
1t represents IN the first place the Di-
vine Redeemer Himself, dead. and then
risen to a new life 10 die no more, as the
apostle declares. for the candle is not ct
first lighted. but only after the performing
of a part Of the blessing
Five grains Of incense are inserted into
II before it is lighted. to represent she
wounds which caused the death of the
Saviour OF the world. The virginia. wax
OF the candle typifes His sacred body.
while the fame and the light show Him
to be the Word Of the Father. enIighten-
ing every one that cometh into the world
Hence it burns on Sunday. from Easter
TO the Ascension. Sunday being the es-
pecial day on which the Word is preached
for the enlightenment Of the people. but
1t Is extlnguished en- the day the Saviour
left the earth, and intrusted the diffusion
OF His light 10 the apostles
. II also typines the cloud and the fiery
pillar by which the chosen people were
guided in their wanderings during forty
years in the desert. on their way to the
Promised Land.
Some Candles Are Large.
Some OF the Paschal candles are large.
weighting thirty fifty, and even 100
pounds. A favorite weight in many
churches is thirty-three pounds. in honor
OF the thirty-three years OF the life Of
Christ upon earth
IN early times, the Offices OF the entire
year, which began with Easter were in
scribed on the Paschal candle. Later. as
their number increased. they were written
on a parchment and attached to II. This
custom continued In certain diceeses OF
France as late as the middle OF the last
century.
But with the multiplication Of the
feasts the practice became impossible,
and, with the invention Of printing, un-
The five grains Of incense. blessed and
inserted in the candle, represent by their
number and arrangement the FIVE wounds
of the Saviour inflicted before His death.
the cicatrices OF which were retained by
Him after His resurrection The ma
terial of the grains represents the spices
with which His sacred body was pre-
pared for the sepulcher.
The origin and custom OF blessing the
Paschal candle has been attributed by
some writer's 10 fupe St. Zosimus. who
ascended the throne Of Peter in the year
4lI but it seems probable the rite had
been introduced before his time.
Chant of the ExuItet,
OF the Exultet. chanted for the bless
ing OF this candle, some writer's hold that
the composition Is the WORK Of st. Angus
tine, but that the chant itself is Am
brosian, said to be the only chant OF
pure Ambrosian found at present in the
liturgy OF the church.
Seldom is the Paschal candle entirely
consumed before the Feast OF the As
cension, and in early ages it was not
the custom to remold the remnant Of the
candle, left when finally extinguished, but
the faithful were accustomed TO procure
small portions of It, and keep them N
their homes as a sacred amulet to pro-
tect them against evils, especially against
tempests.
All writer's agree that it was from this
custom that the Agnus Del now uni
worn by deVous Catholics de-