Evening journal., 1909-04-08
SOLEMN SERVICE
AT CATHEDRAL
Maundy Thursday CeremOn-
les and Tenebrae Mark the
Holy Week Office
MEANING OF SERVICES TODAY

The Roman missal and breviary call this
day the Thursday OF the Lords Supper.
being the day when our Lord, at his last
supper. instituted the Sacrament Of the
Eucharist. 1t is called by the French
Feudi Absolut, or Absolution Thursday;
because the sentence of absolution was
then pronounced over the public peni-
tents. II is now called Maundy Thurs
day. from the ceremony Of washing the
feet, called in the rubric, Mandatunl,
whichis the first antiphon sung during the
ceremony.
The mass on this day differs from the
rest of the office. That Of the Holy Euch-
artist is celebrated, a subject, therefore,
Of JOY and thanksgiving. expressed by the
ringing Of bells and the white color Of the
vestments and ornaments Of the altar. fof,
though the church is wholly taken up dur
ing this week with the passion of Christ,
and for that reason has appointed the
feast of Corpus Christi as a day of thanks
giving for the institution of that Sacra-
ment, vet she could not refrain from some
expressions Of her JOY and gratitude on
the very day when our Lord was pleased
to give us so wonderful a pledge of His
love. But after the Gloria in EXcelsis the
bells are silent during the remainder Of
this day, all Good Friday and Holy Satur-
day. until the recurrence Of the same an
golical hymn on the aforementioned day.
This is intended 10 honor the wonderful
silence of our Saviour during His passion,
and to express the astonishment and
mourning Of the church for the death Of
her Spouse.
The rubric prcscribes the conservation
Of two hosts-one for the sacrifice OF this
day. the other 10 be carried in solemn pro-
cession 10 a place adorned with lights.
where it is kept with great splendor for
the office Of the next day. The reason Of
this solemn worship of God in the Blessed
Sacrament Is to givo the people an oppor-
tunity Of returning thanks 70 God for this
inestimable blessing on the very day OF It's
Institution: and this sentiment is strikngly
evnced by them in their frequent visits
to the places where it is reserved. The
Blessed Sacrament Is removed from the
principal altar. that the devotion of the
passion, which was there commenced the
evening before, at the Tenebrae, may be
continued without pomp or magnlhcence
The custom Of visiting the Blessed Saera'
ment on this day is commonly called Wis
iting sepulchres, but very improperly and
contrary TO the intention Of tho church,
which, in her rubric, ordains the honor
given to It TO be expressed by lights and
the richest ornaments-things very unbe-
coming a sepulchre. Besides it would be
preposterous 10 pay our devotions TO Jesus
Christ in His grave before the church
commentaries His crucihNion. For this
reason, representations Of that kind, made
under the altar where the Holy Eucharist
is kept. must be esteemed a devotion Of
private persons or particular countries,
not in accordance with the original de-
sign of the Church OF Rome.
After the vespers, the priest with his
ministers divest the altars Of the church
Of their coverings and other ornaments
The antiphon divlserunt and the Psalm
Deus, Deus Meus. said by the priest ane
sung by the choir during the ceremony
sufficiently show that it represents th'
stripping Of our Saviour OF his garments
Continued on Second Page.