The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1911-04-15

T SE2WcNa<
Dat only very limited number of people have
ever Witnessed the significant program here car
red out ana that indeed, the great majority of
r 10 public is unaware even of the UNIQUE char.
Ear Of the services at this mecca for worship
r. serves, perhaps, to add interest to the place
Ind the event
Mount st. Sepulchre is located at Brookland
aue District Of Columbia and is the seat Of the
most important church and the most famous
nmastery reared in the New World by the
Mnciscan brothers. However, it should be en-
Aaszed just here that the casual Easter visitor
bshis retreat at Easter-tide need not be a Cath
de nor yet even an adherent of any church to
r RNeciate the solemnity and marvellous beauty
dhe services which take up the greater portion
hls the most momentous day on the church
&usudar
Iae most important architectural feature of
ut durch at Mount st. Sepuchre and one from
Vma the church and monastery takes its name,
ste location in the sanctuary of an exact dupli-
as Of the Holy Sepulchre which has been re-
INDUCED exactly as 1t exists in Jerusalem This
Y rtsef would lend interest to the Easter serv-
to- held in such a setting, but intensifying the
naming of the religious program for all the spec
aDrs Is the circumstance that the services are
exact duplicate to the smallest detail of the
srices which are being held under similar aus
Hes and at the corresponding hour at the last
xung place of the Savior in Jerusalem 1t is
though the congregation at Brookland were
hadenly transported to the Holy Land for an
nur or day.
70 appreciate the novelty OF all that transpires
Easter at Mount st. sepulchre It is neces-
4 NY to know something of the history Of this
4asuton The Franciscan brothers have
number Of monasteries or houses
me order located in various parts of the
lafec States, but the community in the Dis
w OF Columbia is in class by itself in that
~ 10 effect the American branch office" of
~ - franciscan friars who laboring in
'ees1lne. For, Of course, the Franciscans are
Wotherhood whose work is of worldwide
we and one of the most important branches
ais work is found in their function of
rpers OF the holy places" For more than
Iea hundred years the Franciscans have
l possession of almost all of those
aasss 10 the Holy Land, which are most dear
M adherents of the Christian faith-such
s sasss as the spot where Jesus was born In
s .auleaem and the Holy Sepulchre in Jeru-
M ana this order of monks has made of
~ iaoof OF love to restore and preserve
ae sacredly historic localities.
~. Mse share Of all the funds with which
~ sOfK Is carried on comes from America
Gus. AAst OF the Francfscans who are now
\ ,,. ,us actively as keepers of the holy
M !. nave been educated for their task in
bo N miu states-at this self-same institu-
! 60 ~. q Aonnt st. Sepulchre. Officially this
~ J. y designated the Chapel and Col
vsr .ne Holy Land and the thirty monks
a. ri sAe up the community are known as
N. a'aeis OF the Holy Land. Not only is
n.ns. oOiege for the education of the young
,nS =. OF the order who are to go as guides
H. .a1ssaonaries to the Holy Land, but it Is
d. c -e headquarters and business office of
ht,.s sommlssariat of the Holy Land. This
ann legally organized corporation which
n,Orized by law toe receive requests and
d .s..A OF all kinds made for the purpose
o. h 49, and restorative work at
s,r,s NY places in Palestine countrywide
az of laymen known as the Cru
az. - .ne Holy Land" is ever active in the
d Il 80 Inc funds raised by the Crusaders"
"a, Means OF the collection taken once a
p0s,,n all Catholic churches are sent to
hlsstine sepuichre for transmission to
such an Inspiration 1t is, of course