Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1911-04-13

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that only very limited number of people have
ever witnessed the significant program here car
Red out and that indeed, the great majority Of
the public is unaware even of the UNIQUE char
acter OF the services at this mecca for worship
ers. serves. perhaps to add interest to the place
and the event.
Mount st. sepulchre is located at Brookland
In the District of Columbia and is the seat of the
most important church and the most famous
monastery reared in the New World by the
franciscan brothers. However. It should be en-
phasized just here that the casual Easter visitor
TO this retreat at Eastertide need not be a Cath
olic nor yet even an adherent of any church to
appreciate the solemnity and marvellous beauty
OF the services which take up the greater portion
OF this, the most momentous day the church
calendar
The most important architectural feature of
the church at Mount st. Sepulchre and one from
which the church and monastery takes its name.
is the location in the sanctuary of exact dupli
cate Of the Holy Sepulchre which has been re-
produced exactly as IT. exists in Jerusalem This
In itself would lend interest to the Easter sery.
ices held In such setting. but iptensifying the
meaning Of the religious program for all the spec
tators Is the circumstance that the services are
an exact duplicate to the smallest detail of the
services which arr being held under similar aus
pieces and at the corresponding bozr at the last
resting place Of the Savior r. Jerusalem II is
rs though the congregation at Brookland were
suddenly transported to the Holy Land for an
hour or day.
To appreciate the novelty of all that transpires
ut Easter at Mount st. Sepulchre II Is neces-
sary to know something of the history Of this
institution. The Franciscan brothers have
b number of monasteres or houses
or the order located in various parts of the
United States. but the community in the Dis
trict Of Columbia is In a class by itself in that
II Il In eject the American branch ONCE" of
Wh0 lab In
Palestine For. OF course, the Franciscans are
% brotherhood whose work is of worldwide
scope and one Of the most important branches
Of this work Ii found In their function Of
Skeepers of the holy places" For more than
seven hundred years the Franciscans have
places In the Holy Land which are most Gear
70 all adherents Of the Christian faith-such
places a. the spot where Jesus was born In
bethlehem and the Holy sepulchre In Jeru.
salem-and this order Of monks has made Of
II q labor Of love to restore and preserve
these sacredly historic localities.
large share of all the f,ynds with which
this work IL carried comes from AmeSica
and most Of the Franciscans who are now
serving actively as keepers OF the holy
places" have been educated for their task In
the United states-at this seifsame institu-
uoA at Mount ST. Sepuchre. Ofncally this
community ia designated the Chapel and Col
lege Of the Holy Land and the thirty monks
who make up the community are known as
the Fathers of the Holy Land. Not only is
this college for the education of the young
members Of the order who are to 60 as guides
and missionaries TO the Holy Land. but It is
also the headquarters and business Office OF
the Comm'ssariat bf the Holy Land. Shs
latter IL a legally organized corporation which
II authorized by law to receive requests and
donations Of al kinds made for the purpose
Of commemorative and restorative work at
the holy places in Palestine. countrywide
organization of laymen known as the Cru.
sade for the Holy Land" Is ever active IN the
cause and the funds raised by the Crusaders"
or by means of the collection taken once a
year In all Catholic churches are sent to
Mount st. sepulchre for transmission to
Palestine
With such an inspiration It is. of course,