The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-04-09

From a recent edition of The Syras
cuse Catholic Sun, is the following
article regarding the different obser-
vances of holy week that will be OF
interest to many:
From the earliest times the observ-
ance of the last week of Lent has
been one of peculiar solemnity, not
only because of the special prepara-
ton that was to be made for the
of the important facts which are com"
memorated during this time.
The great object of the church in
the ceremonial of Holy Week is to
place before the people the story of
the redemption, in such manner as
to produce deep religious impressions
for their spiritual uplifting. This is
the end she seeks to attain by the
observance of all her rites and cere-
monies.
The office of Holy Thursday begins
the evening previous. From the days
scribed for her clergy divine office;
or, in other words, sacred duty of
daily prayer.
Celebrating the Nocturns.
For long time after the gigils
were discontinued the faithful used to
assemble at midnight for the nocturns
of Thursday, Friday and Saturday of
Holy Week; but for several centuries
the office has been celebrated in the
afternoon of the preceding day. On
these days the church rejects all that
has been introduced into ner office to
express joy.
The office is called "Tenebrae" or
darkness. Authors are not agreed as
to it's origin. In all probability it re-
ceived its name because formerly it
was celebrated in the darkness of mid
night.
Good Friday has always been held
as day of mourning and of solemn
ritual observances; but these cere-
monies were not in all places the
same. Down to the third and fourth
centuries it was usually called the
Pasch, because theil Christ, our Paseh,
was slain Tertullian and Eusebius
write very interestingly on the subject.
Gregory of Tours states that the early
Christians gave this day to watchings.
sacred readings, fasts and prayer In
some places they constructed sepul-
chre, to which the cruciix was car
RED Ill procession, and the figure of
our Savior was carried in q state of
repose in the tomb, together with the
clborlum which contained the Sacred
Host. On this day the churches pre-
sent to the visitor lessons of sorrow
and penance. The altar is Invested
of everything, the sanctuary is covered
with signs of mourning, all ornaments
are remoed, and the candles are of un-
bleached wax. The bishop and other
prelates lay aside their purple and
wear black; nor do they wear rings.
The celebrant and attendants enter
with black vestments. They PROSTATE
themselves at the foot of the altar
and pray i'll secret
ceremonies OF Holy Saturday.
The ceremonies of Holy Saturday
begin with the blessing of the fire and
incense The ancient custom was to
spend the morning in examining the
catechumens who were preparing for
baptism, and those found competent
received their final instructions before
evening. Toward sunset preparat ions
were made for them by beginning the
office which lasted till midnight Pre-
vious to its termination baptism and
confirmation were administered; then
mass was celebrated, communion was
given, and the faithful either remained
through the night or returned home
to take some refreshment and rest and
to prepare for the coming back at
an early hour in the morning. Hence
all the offices refer to night and ter
inmate with evidences of the resur.
rection which took place at a very
early hour before daylight OH Sunday.
The custom of having the offices early
in the day is but departure, within
SIX or seven hundred years, from the
ancient discipline.
The object of the church in her
ritual service is to imprint upon the
imagination as well as upon the MEM
DRY the great lessons she would i'm,
part She now would inform us that
the light which the revelation of the.
Savior gave to the world has made
us more fully and more clearly ac
qualnted with the great mystery of
the most Holy Trinity than were the
patriarchs or prophets who existed be-
fore Cnricf