The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1911-04-13

CZCISI[PH/ M /SLDITSIZFT NJ /2GGHW
ST SZ/2HGR2E
that only Il very limited number OF people have
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, Sepulchrc Is located at Drookland
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 ON.
phasized just here that tho casual Easter visitor
10 this retreat at Easter.tide need not be n Cath
ole nor yet even 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 ut Mount St ScpulchrC and one from
which the church and monastery takes It's name
ia the location in the sanctuary Of exact dupli
cate of the Holy Sepuchro which has been
produced exactly as IL exists In Jerusalem. This
in itself would lend interest to the Easter sery-
fees held In such setting, but intensfyng 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,
pices and at the corresponding hour mt the last
resting place of tho Savior in Jerusalem II is
MS though the congregation at Brookland were
suddenly transported to the Holy Land for an
hour or a day.
To appreciate the novelty Of all that transplros
at Easter at Mount st. Sepuchro It is
sary TO know something of the history Of this
institution. The Franciscan brothers have
number OF monasteries houses
of the order located in various parts OF the
United States but the community In tho Dis
trict Of Columbia is in a class by itself in that
Il is In effect tho American branch office" OF
tho Franciscan friars who are laboring in
Palestine. For OF course, the Franciscans are
q 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 tho 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 whore Jesus born in
Bethlehem and the Holy sepulchre in Joru.
Balem-and this order of monks has made Of
II n labor OF love to restore and preserve
these sacrodly historic localities.
large share of all the funds with which
this work is carried Oh comes from America
and most of the Franciscans who now
serving actively as keepers of the holy
places" have been educated for their task in
the United States-at this selfsnme institu-
ton at Mount st. Sepulchre. Officially this
community is designated the Chapel and Col.
iege of the Holy Land and the thirty monks
who make up the community are known as
the Fathers Of the Holy Land. Not only Ia
this college for the education of the young
members OF the order who to go guides
and missionaries to the Holy Land, but II is
also the headquarters and business office OF
the Commssariat of the Holy Land This
latter is a legally organized corporation which
is authorized by law to receive requests ana
donations of all kinds made for tho purpose
of commemorative and restorative work at
the holy places In Palestine. 4 countrywide
organization of laymen known as the "Cru.
SADIE for the Holy Land" Is ever active in tho
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 an inspiration II is of course,