Putnam patriot., 1908-04-17
Holy Week at St. Mary's Church

The Roman ritual so rich in form and ccremonials throughout the year K par licuarly 50 during Holy Week which begins with the blessing oi the palms on sunday in contmcmofatiee of our Lords trin,nphal entry into Jerusalem and ends on Easter Sunday, the joyful day of His resurrection.
 The special ceremonies, however, in parish churches, begin on Holy Thurs day. The mass on this day k that of the Holy Eucharist, which K one of joy and thanksgiving, expressed by the ringing of the bells nnd the white eol- ors of the sestments, and by the profu- sion of ornaments on the altar For though the church k wholly taken up during this week with the passion Of Christ yet she could mol refrain from expressions of gratitude Oil the dny when our Lord gave us sn wondfOus il pledge oi His love. But after the tslo- ria in E.xcelsis the bells and the organ are silent, which is symbolic of our -a. yioufs silence during His passion. At the close of the mass the fange Idngua is iatnne.i hs the eelebrant and eontin. ded by the choir a capella while tae Blessed Sacrament k carried n solemn procession to the repository, which is adorned with numerous iights and flowers. After This cerem mony tlie high altar k diNested of it's coverings and other ornaments which represents inc stripping Of our Saviour of His gar ments, for which the soldiers cast lots.
 On Good Friday the priest in black yestments read such prayers and tracts
 
 the Messiah and His immolntion on the cross. This ceremony Is followed by the solemn adoration Of Christ cru ciiied, by both priest and people. If at the holy name every knee should bend what feelings should arise in the chris tian breast sat the sacred sign of re- demption. After the adoration of the cross the Blessed Sacrament k again brought back 10 the altar with the same ponp and devotion as on Holy Thursday.
 The ceremonies on Holy Saturday begin with the lighting Of triple can de, which signifies that the faith Of the Blessed Trinity proceeds from the light communicated to us by Christ's resarfse's,n. The Paschal candle is next blessed, anu this k followed " the reading of the prophecies, after which thss .,a y;i,alal font Is blessed with ceremonies as deeply significant ss they are sublime. In the early days Of tbe church the catechnmens were on this day baptized. The Litany of the Saints k then chante4, and then mass follows: during which candles and or naments are brought forth, and at the Gloria the organs joyful tones pro. claim the approach of the iPaschai dawn.
 On Easter Sunday the richest vest ments are worn, which, with the sol chm music and the glad Aleinias, continually repeated, portray the Joy that permeaies the whole christian world on this feast, the triumph q faith for. If Christ bc not fsven our faith is yaln.
 'flle music for tic high mass al 9si5 will conxiSt sf -t, Gecilia's entire niass hi C, by NSn. Mattfeld, with Fiske's GnadeanauS far an ofteftosy The choir for tie high mass al i0ssa9 will sing the t.feuorian mass, harmonixed by Brother Joseph, with the tsregorian a5 Regina GDeil at the fteftory. The psoceasiouas will be Postiude by Read Drganisi Miss Elizabeth Byrnes -----~--~-a-s s~---~---
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