The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-05-12

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that only very limited number of people have
witnessed the significant program here car
ried 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 Brookand
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 Easter-tide need not be Cath
Ollie nor yet even an adherent of any church to
appreciate the solemnty and marvellous beauty
OF the services which take up the greater portion
OF this the most momentous day on the church
calendar.
The most important architectural feature of
the church at Mount St. Sepuchre, and one from
which the church and monastery takes it's name
is the location in the sanctuary of an 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 serv-
Ices held In such setting, but ntensifying 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 are being held under similar aus
Dices and at the corresponding hour at the last
resting place of the Savior In Jerusalem. 1t is
though the congregation at Brookland were
suddenly transported to the Holy Land for an
hour day.
To appreciate the novelty Of all that transpres
at Easter at Mount st. Sepulchre it is neces-
sary to know something of the history of this
institution The Franciscan brothers have
a number of monasteres or houses
Of the order located in various parts of the
United States, but the community in the Dis.
trct Of Columbia is in class by itself in that
it is in effect the American branch office" of
tho Franciscan friars who laboring 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 is found in their function of
'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 are most dear
to all adherents of the Christian faith-such
places the spot where Jesus was born in
Bethlehem and the Holy Sepulchre In Jeru-
salem-and this order Of monks has made of
1t labor of love to restore and preserve
these sacredly historic localities
A large share of all the funds with which
this work IS carried on comes from America
and most of the Franciscans who are now
serving actively keepers of the holy
places" have been educated for their task in
the United States-at this self-same institu-
ton at Mount St. Sepulchre Officially this
community Is 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 go as guides
and missionaries to the Holy Land but it is
also the headquarters and business Office of
the Commssariat of the Holy Land This
latter is legally organized corporation which
Is authorized by law to receive requests and
donations Of all kinds made for the purpose
Of commemorative and restorative work at
the holy places in Palestine. countrywide
organization of laymen known as the Cru
SADIE 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
year in all Catholic churches are sent to
Mount St. Sepulchre for transmission to
Palestine.
With such inspiration it is, of course,