El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-03-25
GOOD FRIDAY, THE
REPENTANCE
DAY
Catholic Church Mourns the
Crucifiixion With I'm
pressive Services.

Services in the Catholic churches are
held today to commemorate the day OF
passion and death IF the Savior. In
the entire liturgy of the Church there
are no more impressive features than
those of this day. The sanctuary is
bare and unadorned. The altar is
stripped of its ornaments and the cru
ciix alone remains, yelled in black, six
unlighted candles stand at the altar.
When the priests make their way to
the sanctuary they PROSTATE themselves
in utter abasement. On Good Friday
the priest is rather the spokesman and
representative OF the congregation
present They follow and take part in
the various acts of reparation he per-
forms This is the key to right I'M
Outstanding to the whole function. The
services are divided into four parts
three lessons the solemn prayers, the
alteration of the cross, the mass of the
presanctified.
In the first division the ministers
approach the sanctuary in utter ST.
lence. The vestments are black On
the altar there is neither missal nor
altar cloth. When the ministers reach
the altar they PROSTATE themselves in
silence. Then they read the three les
sons, two from the old Testament and
one the passion according to st. John.
These lessons are the earliest forms OF
the church's service.
Antiquity of Service.
The solemn prayers which follow bear
evidence Of remote antiquity. The lit
any, the eucharistic prayer and the col
lect were the early church forms In
the prayers Of Good Friday is a good
- -, q nj
the responsive "Te ragomos audinos-"
The alteration of the cross was the
third section of the days prayers and
service. The celebrant lays aside his
chasuble. the symbol of his priests
dignity, and is first to humble himself.
He receives the yelled cross and stand
ing at the side of the altar he uncov-
ers a small part. raising it slightly for
the people 10 see and sings in a low
voice, Behold the wood of the cross
on which hung the salvation of the
world"
Mass of Presanctified.
Candles on the altar are lighted when
the mass for the presa notified is said.
This is in reverence for the coming
presence OF Jesus Christ The clergy
go in procession to the chapel Of re-
pose and bring back to the high altar
the blessed sacrament, which has been
reserved in a chalice- During the pro-
cession the choir sings the ''Vevillo
Regis"
On this day alone throughout the
year the church suspends the offering
of the holy sacrifice of the mass. When
the blessed sacrament is brought to
the altar the priest bids the people
pray and himself prays aloud. singing
the "Pater Noster." AS soon as the
priest departs the altar is stripped.
The sanctuary is empty. its light is
gone and no lamp burns in any part Of
the church. The naked cross stands
alone to proclaim the mourning OF the
spouse for the crucifxion of her Lord.
Easter Services.
Saturday will be Holy Saturday.
For thousand years after the foun-
dation of the church this day was de-
voted to prayer and fasting. in watch
Z ing-the spirit Of the holy women at
the sepulchre until the morning Of the
resurrection. The service OF the mass
! that is now observed on Saturday was
really held on Saturday night extend
ing to the resurrection morning. The
services are divided into two sections
the blessing and the mass. The Sat-
urday service will be held at Z o'clock
a m.
Easter services will be the effulgeni
reawakening and renewal after the res
direction. Easter will be the great
feast day of the church. following the
holy weeks prayer and devotions.