The Washington herald., 1910-03-20
PALMS DISTRIBUTED
In CHURCHES TO-DAY
First Day of Holy Week One
of Significance.
MEMORY OF cHR1sTs ENTRY
TriumphaI Procession Is Followed
by PIaintIve Chanting of the PAS
sion"-ssWay OF the Cross" Com
memorates Episodes in Christ's
Journey 20 Calvary.

Palm Sunday is so called from the eere-
mony of blessing and distributing palms
in all the Catholic churches throughout
the world, in memory of Christ's
triunphaI entry into Jerusalem, when
many of the Jews cut down boughs and
spread them in His way. just six days
before His cruci6xion. In cathedral
churches the ceremony is followed by
procession of the clergy and choir Of
Levites, carrying palm branches in their
hands. and singing hymn Of Glory.
praise, and honor to Christ"
The note of triumph is short lived, how
ever, and is Immediately followed by the
plaintlve chanting of the Passion" fer
Palm Sunday is also the first day Of
holy week. which is devoted almost ex-
cluslvely to concentrating the great
tragedy of the crucihxion. The eere-
monies OF holy week are the most elabo-
rate and dramatic of the whole year;
consisting of numerous professions. bless
ings. scriptural prophecies. alterations.
and weird chants.
A favorite form of public and private
devotion on Good Friday is the way OF
the Cross" consisting of fourteen sta
tons. indicated by crosses and pictures
around the walls of the church. CONNIE
moratlng the following episodes in
Chrisrs journey to Calvary: J. condemn
ed TO death by PLATE; ,, loaded with the
cross; 8. Christ falls the first time under
the cross; 4, He meets His afflicted moth
er; ., helped by Simon of Cyrene to carry
the cross; G, Veronica wipes His face with
her handkerchief; Z. His second fall; S.
meets the women Of Jerusalem; ., His
third fall; 10, He is stripped Of His gar
ments; II, He is nailed to the cross; L.
He dies on the cross; b. He is taken
down from the cross; "A. His burial
The original way OF the Cross Is
still pointed out in Jerusalem. and the
devotion-which originated with the
Franciscans, who are custodians of the
holy places in that city-is intended to
enable devout Christians TO make a pill
grimage in spirit TO the scenes Of Christ's
sunerings and death
Just as we Americans preserve numer-
Gus relics of Washington. the Father of
his Country. so Christians have preserved
a number Of relics Of Christ, the Found
er Of Christianity. especially of His cru
cifxion. These are exhibited in various
churches during holy week. particularly
on Good Friday Volumes have been
and might be, written on their history
and authenticity, but bare mention of
some of them can be made here.
The wood Of the true cross has been
divided and subdivided, until inhnltesimal
particles of it may be found all over the
world. Six OF the largest portions are
preserved in Rome Venice. Paris, Brus-
sells, Client, and Ragusa, amounting. in
the aggregate. to 1851 cubic inches.
The seamless robe, woven by His moth
er, and for which the soldiers cast lots,
IS preserved in the Cathedral of Treves.
end the winding sheet at Aix-la-Chapelle.
The crown of 'thorns and one of the
nails are found in the Cathedral Of Metre
Dame Paris. having been brought from
tho Orient by ST. Louis.
The holy lance, with which Longinus,
the Centurion. opened Christ's side, let
ting out blood and water. is preserved in
Rome, having been given by Bajazet II
to Pope Innocent VIII.
The veil. or handkerchief. handed to
our Lord by Veronica, to wipe the blood
and sweat from His face, and which He
returned, according to the ancient tradl-
ton. with the impression OF His face in
delibly stamped upon it. IS preserved in
St. Peters, at Rome, where it was
brought about the year zoo.
The marble column OF the Flagenation,
10 which Christ was bound while He was
being scourged. is also preserved in one
of the churches OF Rome.
Portions Of the wooden manger in
which Christ was born are also to be
seen IN the Basilica Of St Mary Major,
at Rome.
Right Rev. Bishop Walmesley, 0. S. b.
IS fairly entitled to the rank Of father of
the American episcopate. by virtue of
the fact that he consecrated Archbishop
Carroll. Of Baltimore. who was the first
bishop OF the United States It Is de-
sired to mako the translation of his body
from the old Catholic chapel in Bristol
10 the church Of Downside Abbey, in
England. the occasion for supplying
monument TO commemorate this historic
fact. It is suggested that the monument
should take the form of an altar tomb,
10 contain his body. to stand at the right
hand side OF the high altar in the abbey
church.
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