Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-22
HOLY WEEK is USHERED IN
Solemn Commemorstion Of Christ's
Entry Into Jerusalem.
OF PALMS IS HELD
solemn and Impressive Services ne
81. Johns Typical of Catholic
Obaervance---Servic I'm
other Churches.
Why Palm gunday7

Why Palm Sunday7
The answer Is found In John Xli!l2-lS.
"on the next day much people that were
come to the feast, where they heard that
Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. took
branches Of palm trees and went forth to
meet Him and cried, Hosanna; blessed is
the King that cometh In the name OF the
Lord"
Throughout the Christian world this cele-
bration Of Palm Sunday, the advent of
Holy week, is almost universal The occa-
sion is made one OF the most solemn i'm
portance in the Catholic churches and is
observed with various ceremonies, begin
ming with high mass and the blessing Of
the palms. Where the church is sufh-
eiently spacious the additional ceremony Of
the procession Of the palms is carried out
with impressive colemnity.
This service was observed at St Johns
church. California and Twenty-fifth streets,
Sunday morning. During the mass the
passion according to st. Matthew was
chanted by the priests with deep solemnity.
During the procession the priests were
robed In brilliant vestments, the spectacle
producing a solemn and impressive effect,
The professional ceremony was brief. There
was no sermon at the mass. After being
blessed the palm branches were distributed
among the congregation to be taken to
their homes, where they will be reveTently
kept.
The day was similarly observed in all
the Catholic churches, except only in the
matter OF the procession Of the palms,
which could not be given by many Of the
churches for lack of room. In some Of the
churches the procession will be held Thurs
day evening. The attendance at all the
Catholic churches was very large.
A somberness was given to the services
that more particularly impressed itself
upon the non-Catholics who were unaccus-
toned to visiting the Catholic churches
only on special occasions. in that the
statues or images in all the churches were
covered in Difference to Passion week. This
covering Of the images is intended to por-
tray the sadness Of the week. and the
draping will be removed on Easter morn
ing, next Sunday.
Special Features i'm Other Churches.
Special services appropriate to Palm Sun
day were held at Trinity Episcopal cathe-
dral and other Episcopal churches about
the city.
Special services were also observed in
many Of the evangelical churches, the
music In all being peculiarly appropriate to
musical programs were especially beautiful.
The day was most beautiful one as to
weather, and hence the large attendance
at all the churches. Church communicates
carrying palm branches homo from the
churches was striking and noticeable
feature of the day.
Announcements were made from all the
Catholic churches Of the services during
Holy week. there being some sort Of serv-
ice nearly every evening.
One of the most ancient and at the same
time impressive features Of the Holy week
services will be Maunday Thursday, which
is devoted to the solemn oommemoration
Of the Eucharist, or the Lords Supper.
Good Friday and Holy Saturday will fel-
low. and then Easter Sunday, the most
sacred and joyous Of all Christian observ-
ances, commemoratlng the resurrection of
our Lord.