Evening journal., 1909-04-06
SERVICES OF
HOLY WEEK
They Will be the Most Solemn
of the PenitentiaI Len
ten Season
NO MASS IN CHURCH
ON GOOD FRIDAY

The Catholic and Episcopal churches are
now preparing for the most solemn obser-
vances OF the pentental Lenten season
Maundy, Thursday and Good Friday. Just
now certain portions OF the mass In the
Catholic Churches is being omitted.
The cruciixes and images from now un-
III Easter will be enshrouded In purple and
no flowers will be used upon the altars.
The solemnity of the week deepens as It
advances and the office for Holy Thurs
day-formerly called Maundy Thursday-ls
very elaborate. The religious exercises are
Of great antiquity and partake Of the sim
plicity Of ancient times.
The Eucharist, or the Lords supper
was instituted on Holy Thursday. hence
the name. In the celebration of the mass
on that day a host is consercrated, which
Is taken in procession 10 a repository al a
side altar and left there until the follow
ing Saturday. In ancient times three
masses were said on this day for special
purposes-the first to reconcile the peni-
tents, the second for the benediction of the
holy oils, and the third TO commemorate
the institution Of the Eucharist.
Origin Of canonieal Hours.
In early ages the faithful assembled at
certain times every day for prayer and
praise, and from this custom arose the
canonical hours At present only the men,
hers Of the monastic orders assemble at
night for this purpose. The nocturnal Of
fees. however, sim retain their names,
and. accordingly, I'm Holy Week there is
the office OF the Tenebrae, which is re-
cited for the first time on Wednesday of
Holy Week, and is repeated on Thursday
and Friday.
In the Tenebrae large triangular candle
sticks are used. which I'm primitive ages
were called herce, on account Of their re-
semblance to a harrow. These lights were
required. as the Christians found ii neces-
sary 10 meet in subterranean and obscure
places on account of persecution. Gradual
" the lights came TO have a symbolic
meaning. and in the Tenebrae they rep
resent Christ and His apostles. As the Of
fee is sung one light after another Is ex-
tineuished, signifying the desertion Of the
savior by His followers. until only Him
self is left. That. too. disappears, show
ing His death. a noise is heard, in remem
brance OF the earthquake, and then Tho
light is brought back again, showing th'
entry of the Gospel into the world.
on Good Friday there is no mass-th'
onlv dav in the year when this occurs
but now the altars are bare and the taoer
nacle is wide open. No ornaments are ap
parent anywhere; even the bells ant
clocks are silent In the religious house.
a wooden clapper is used to summon IN
members Of the community TO their duties
The service is called the Mass Of tn
| Pre-sanctihed." because no host is conse
Grated, and the one consumed by the prizes
who recites the office has been reserved
for this purpose from the previous day
The service comprises the reading Of Ger
tain passages OF Scripture telling Of tn
death and burial OF Christ and also OF tn
recitation Of the Psalms.
Bells Ring Again Saturday.
on Holy Saturday the high mass is on'
of Joy, for Christ has conquered death
and the next day is Easter. At the Glori'
the bells ring out again. On this day tn
holy water is blessed and the new tir