The Yale expositor., 1911-04-13

a
That only very limited number of people have
over witnessed the significant program here car
Efed out and that indeed, the great majority of
Nne pubic Is unaware even of the unique char
meter OF the services at this mecca for worship
sws. serves, perhaps to add interest to the place
knd the event.
4 Mount st. Sepulchre is located at Brookland
IN the District OF Columbia and is the seat of the
fnnOst important church and the most famous
monastery reared in the New World by the
Ffanciscan brothers. However, 1t should be en-
Dhasfzed just here that the casual Easter visitor
eo this retreat at Eastertde need not be Cath
aSis nor yet even an adherent of any church to
appreciate the solemnity and marvellous beauty
or the services which take up the greater portion
OF this, the most momentous day on the church
calendar.
The most important architectural feature of
che church at Mount st. Sepulchre and one from
which the church and monastery takes its name
Is the location IN the sanctuary of an exact dupl
cate of the Holy Sepulchre which has been re-
produced exactly as 1t exists in Jerusalem. This
In itself would lend interest to the Easter serv-
2ceJ held in such setting but intensifying the
meaning of the religious program for all the spec
Satcrs is the circumstance that the services are
nm exact duplicate to the smallest detail of tho
services which being held under similar aus
pices and at the corresponding hour at the last
Nesting place of the Savior in Jerusalem. 1t Is
as though the congregation at Brookland were
suddenly transported to tho Holy Land for an
hour a day.
To appreciate the novelty of all that transpires
at Easter at Mount st. Sepulchre it is neces-
cary to know something of the history Of this
institution The Franciscan brothers have
a. number of monasteries or houses
or the order located in various parts Of the
United States, but the community in the Dis
trfct OF Columbia Is in class by itself in that
st Is in effect the American branch office" OF
Eho Franciscan frars who laboring in
Palestine. For, Of course, the Franciscans are
N brotherhood whose work is of worldwide
scope and one of the most important branches
OF this work is found in their function of
r'keepers Of the holy places" For more than
seven hundred years the Franciscans have
been in possession OF almost all of those
places in the Holy Land which most dear
20 all adherents Of the Christian fath-such
places as tho spot where Jesus born in
Bethlehem and the Holy Sepuchre in Jeru-
EsIem-and this order Of monks has made Of
Sc labor Of love to restore and preserve
these sacredly historic localities
! large share of all the funds with which
shis work is carried on comes from America
and most OF the Francscans who are now
serving actively as keepers of the holy
places" have been educated for their task in
sbe United States-at this selfsame institu-
tion at Mount st. Sepuchre. Officially this
community is designated the Chapel and Col
fe9e OF the Holy Land and the thirty monks
who make up the community known as
che Fathers of the Holy Land. Not only Is
This n college for the education of the young
members of the order who are to go as guides
and missionaries to the Holy Land, but 1t is
MISC the headquarters and business Office Of
Hho Commissariat of the Holy Land. This
latter is legally organized corporation which
3s authorized by law to receive requests and
Aonations of all kinds made for the purpose
or commemorative and restorative work at
khe holy places in Palestine. countrywide
organization OF laymen known as the Cru
eade for the Holy Land" is ever active in the
cause and the funds raised by the Crusaders"
ar By means of the collection taken
year in all Catholic churches sent to
Mount st. Sepulchre for transmission to
Palestine
with such inspiration It is. Of course