The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-04-17
RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES At ST.
PATRlcK's CHURCH.
ITS ORIGIN EXPLAINED
Example Of Jesus Christ Initiated
From Time Of the ApostIes-ser-
vices Tomorrow for Good Friday
Conservation of Holy Oils.
From Thursdays Daily.

From Thursdays Daily.
Today is Holy Thursday and will be
observed by the members Of the
Catholic faith in this city. Rev. Faith
er Stack, pastor Of st. Patrick's Cath
olic church, has contributed the fol.
to The Gazette on the cere.
monies which will, be observed today.
The ceremonies peculiar to Holy
Thursday are the conservation Of the
holy oils, the procession with the
Blessed Eucharist to the chapel Of re-
pose, the denuding Of the affairs, and
the washing of the feet.
The conservation of the holy oils is
performed in the cathedral by the
bishop, assisted by priests. deacons
and sub-deacons. This conservation
takes place only on Holy Thursday.
and the oils c~onsecrated on this day
are used till the next Holy Thursday,
when a new conservation takes place.
The holy oils are the oil of the sick,
the oil Of Catechumens, and the
Chrism. These oils are used in most
of the more solemn functions Of the
church-in the administration OF the
sacraments Of baptism, confirmation,
extreme JUNCTION, and holy orders; in
the coronation Of emperors and kings,
and in the conservation of churches,
affairs, chalices and bells. The oils to
be c~onsecrated are first exercised by
the bishop, who, in the name of Christ,
forbids the devil to stain by his pres
or his influence the instrument
which God selects to convey his
graces and blessings to men. They
are then blessed, and the bishop and
priests breathe over them, in imita-
ton Of our Divine Lord breathing over
his apostles, that, is by His breath.
ing, the apostles received the Holy
Ghost, so by the breathing of the.
bishop and priests the blessed oils
may acquire a supernatural power for
the salvation Of the faithful.
Procession Follows Mass.
The procession with the blessed sac
rament to the chapel Of repose takes
place at the end of mass. The chapel
OF repose is adorned with flowers and
lights, and the faithful visit it in great
numbers during all Of Thursday and
the morning OF Friday, to testify
their love of Christ and their detesta-
ton OF sin, which was the cause Of
his bitter passion and death. The pro.
cession is a symbol Of the journey Of
our Lord, with his disciples from the
supper-room at Jerusalem to the
Mount Of Olives.
Vespers are said Immediately after
the procession, and when they are
finished, the priest, with his attend
ants, unclothes the altar in memory
of our Divine Lord stripped OF his gar
ments and to signify the grief and
MORNINGS of the church.
Hg5@ Washing OF GUS F9GIs
Then follows the washing Of the
feet. The bishop or priest approaches
the altar in a purple cope, attended by
a deacon and sub-deacon. The deacon
sings the Gospel Of st. John (X11I.
1-14). after which the bishop o priest
lays aside the purple cope and, TAX
ing a towel, proceeds to wash the feet
OF 10 men selected for the purpose.
Kneeling down he washes the right
foot Of each, dries it with a towel,
and kisses 1t.
This custom dates from the first
Holy Thursday when Jesus Christ
s'riseth from supper and layeth aside
his garments, and having taken 9
towel, girded himself; after that he
putteth water into a basin and began
to wash the feet Of the disciples and
to wipe them with the towel where
with he was girded and be
ing sat down again he said to them:
Know you what I have done to you?
You call me Master and Lord: and
you say we'll. for SO I am. II then, l
being your Lord and Master, have
washed your feet: you also ought to
wash one another's feet. For I have
given you an example, that as I have
done, to you SO you do Also" From
the writings Of st. Justin. T%ertullian,
and other early fathers. It is evident
that, from the time of the apostles.
the example Of our Lord was imitat-
ed and His orders obeyed.
This morning at s o'clock high mass
will be said at the st. Patrick's
church with the foregoing ceremonies
carried out. Tomorrow being Good
Friday services will begin at st. Pat
rick's church at 8 a. N.
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