Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1911-04-01
Palm Sunday Will Usher in Pc
riOd of Fasting, COntempla-
tion and Prayer.
Each Day Has Its Peculiar Rites
and Symbols OF the
Church.
OFFICE OF TENEBRAE AT NIGHT


Tomorrow we will have Passion
Sunday. A week from tomorrow will
be Palm Sunday and then the Holy
Week-Holy Thursday, Good Fri
day, all a preparation for Easter.
Palm Sunday commemorates the
entrance of our Saviour into Jeru-
salem on the Sunday prior to his
death on the cross. 1t was
triumphal entry, and his followers
spread palms in his path and hailed
Him with hosannahs. The church
commentaries this event by bless
ing and distributing palms to the
faithful before the high mass on
Sunday morning. The palms left
over from that day are burned and
the ashes are blessed to be dis
tributed among the faithful on the
following Ash Wednesday.
Holy Week is the most solemn
period of Lent. Wherever there are
priests of regular orders the Tene-
brae is sung on Wednesday, Thurs
day and Friday evenings. In
Louisville the office of the Tenebrae
will be sung at St. Louis Bertrand
and St. Boniface churches. Wednes-
day, Friday and Saturday are days
of abstinence and fast Many Cath
olics also observe abstinence on
Holy Thursday. II was on the night
of that day that our Divine
Redeemer instituted the holy sacra-
ment of the Eucharist 1t was on
Good Friday that He was betrayed
by Judas and crucified. These
mysteries in the life of the Man
God are commemorated by the
church on Holy Thursday and Good
Friday. On Holy. Saturday the
church prepares the faithful for the
great mystery of mankind's redemp-
tion, the resurrection of Christ from
the grave. ------s' r
On Holy Thursday the Bishops
and Archbishops of the world in
their several Cathedrals bless the
holy oils used by the priests in ad-
ministering various sacraments.
Every parish priest repairs to the
Cathedral on that day and is given
the necessary oils for 'he year.
The mass on Holy Thursday is al
ways celebrated in white vestments,
because the institution of the
Eucharist is commemorated, yet
there are certain signs of the mourn
ing proper to the Holy Week. The
bells which sound at the Gloria are
thereafter silent until Holy Satur-
day. The celebrant of the mass con-
socrates an additional Host, which
is placed in a monstrance and borne
in procession to one of the side
altars or a repository elsewhere
prepared for 1t. After the mass the
main altar is stripped of all orne-
ments and coverings and washed
with wine.
Good Friday commentaries the
death of our Lord. The church
teaches the faithful to contemplate
his agony in the Garden OF Geth-
semane, his scourging, his crown OF
thorns, his journey to Calvary bear
ing the weight OF the cross, and
finally his death. On Good Friday
the priests wear black vestments.
The Host consecrated on Holy
Thursday is borne back from the
repository to the main altar and is
consumed by the officiating priest.
On Holy Saturday the church
blesses the new fire and the Paschal
candle The blessing of the candle
is followed by the reading OF the
twelve prophecies. This in turn Is
followed by the blessing OF the folM
and the Easter water. The clera
go in procession from the font u
the main altar, reciting the Litany
of the Saints as they go. Once mS
the altar is bedecked in flowers 4
the priests wear white vestments.
At the Gloria of the mass the organ
peals, bells are rung and there are
signs of Joy on every hand.
The office of the Tenebrae is
beautiful and solemn service during
Holy Week. II symbolizes the dark
ness that overspread the world prior
10 the birth Of our Saviour. The
priests are arranged In chairs at
either side OF the main altar. On
the epistle side OF the sanctuary
stands a triangle illuminated by
thirteen candles. symbolizlng the
Redeemer and the twelve apostles.
The priests chant certain psalms,
sing the lamentations OF the
Prophet jeremiah and several can
ticles. One by one the candles are
extinguished. Finally the last can
die is concealed behind the altar.
slgnifying that Christ would rise.
again from the dead. All the lights
in the church are extinguished
while an Our Father Is said. After
that the lights are turned on and
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