The Elbert County tribune. [volume] (Elbert, Elbert County, Colo.) 18??-1920, 1911-04-14

tnat only very limited number of people have
ever 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 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 1t should be en-
phasized Just here that the casual Easter visitor
to this retreat at Easter-tide need not be a Cath
Ole nor yet even 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 on the church
calendar
the church at Mount St Sepulchre and one from
which the church and monastery takes its name
Is the location in the sanctuary of an exact dupi-
cate of the Holy Sepulchre which has been re-
produced exactly as 1t exists In Jerusalem This
In itself would lend interest to the Easter serv-
Ices held in such setting, but intensifying 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
pces and at the corresponding hour at the last
resting place of the Savior in Jerusalem 1t is
as though the congregation at BrookIand were
suddenly transported to the Holy land for an
hour or a day.
To appreciate the novelty of all that transpres
at Easter at Mount st. Sepulchre 1t is neces-
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 the Dis
trict of Columbia is In a class by itself In that
1t ts In effect the~American branch office" of
tho Franciscan friars who are labof.ng liz
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 the Francscans have
been In possession Of almost all OF those
places in the Holy Land, which are most dear
to all adherenta of the Christian faith-such
places as 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.
large share Of an the funds with which
this work is carried comes from America
and most Of the Franciscans who now
serving actively keepers "of the holy
places" have been educated for their task In
the United States-at this selfsame institu-
ton at Mount ST. Sepulchre OfciaIIy this
community ia designated the Chapel and Col
lege Of the Holy Land and the thirty monks
who mako up the community known as
the Fathers Of the Holy Land Not only is
this a 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 ONCE Of
the Commissariat 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 the Cru
sade for the Holy Land" is active in the
cause and the funds raised by the Crusaders"
or BY means Of the collection taken once
year in all Catholic churches sent to
Mount st. Sepulchre for transmission to
Palestine.
with such inspiration It is. Of course.