Omaha daily bee., 1912-04-05
CATHOLICS HOLD SERVICES
Special Observance for Holy Week
is Church Rite.
CHRIsT's SUFFERING RECALLED
Good Friday Commentaries His
Death and Burial and Easter Con-
clsdia9 the Ceremonial IL
Devoted TO Rejoicing.

Special services win, he conducted In
Catholic and some Protestant churches
the remainder of tho week in eommem-
GRAFTON OF the last supper. the crucifixion
and resurrection ON Easter Sunday.
This evening and tomorrow evening
Tenebrae Is sang as an evening
devotion at Catholic churches. con-
sisting OF Psalms. lessons and iamen-
tatious having reference TO the sufferings
Of Christ. These lamentations are the
wallings of tho prophet Jeremiah over
the destruction of Jerusalem. and are
intended 10 put the faithful on their
guard against the misery OF sin and to
impress on them the necessity OF penance.
These same services were held last even
ing. -...-..
During tho Tcnserae fifteen candles are
kept burning on a triangular candlestick.
and at tho end of each Psalm one lie
extlnguished. except the last one, which
Is carried lighted behind the altar and
again brought forth and replaced. still
burning. In the triangle, This 10 TO show
that the light OF the God-head In Jesus
Christ. whilst becoming apparently dim
mer during His sufferings. was never
extmguished. and at the resurrection only
burst forth with greater brtlliancy.
The institution of the blessed sacrament
Of tho altar and the beginning of Christ's
passion In the Garden OF Olives are com.
memorated In the church today. In some
countries II Ia customary ON this day to
place on the table. for the first time In
the season. tho first green vegetables of
spring. and on that account 1, Is known
~ Green Thursday, In each parish
church but one mass 10 celebrated. at
which the other priests receive com.
niunion. because at the last supper Christ
alone changed bread aud wine into HIS
body and blood. and administered TO His
apostles At the mass two large hosts
are consecrated. one OF which Ia kept for
Good Friday. and at the end Of mass. In
. yelled chalice. Is carried In procession
to the repository prepared on one Of the
side affairs.
Chri.t's Death Commemorated.
Tomorrow the church. amid the deepest
afflietion. commemorate the death and
burial Of Jesus. Because OF this sorrow
the services are carried on In black vest
ments. and Good Friday ID not held as a
feast. The services begin by the priests
and ministers prostrating themselves at
the foot of the altar In imitation OF the
debasement OF Jesus.
To represent the elevation Of Christ on
Calvary the priests, taking the black
yelled cross. holds II up to the people.
and ascends gradually the altar steps. at
each step uncovering q part Of the cross.
and each time singing in q higher tons
Of voice. "Eees lignum crucis."
On Good Friday no mass il said, but
what 10 known as the mass of the pre-
sanctified Ia celebrated. which consists
In the priest bringing back in procession
from the repository the host consecrated
the day before and placing II on the high
altar. and there. a. q representation Of
the death and burial OF Jesus. receives
holy communion under one kind.
BIexing OF the New Fire.
The services on Holy Saturday consist
Of blessing Of the new fire. which Is to
signify that Christ is the conversions on
which the church Is built. and which is
struck from flint, and from which ali
lamps in the church are relIt, symbolixing
the rising Of Christ from the dead. The
pasehal candle and baptismal water Is
also blessed. and holy mass said.
On Easter Sunday. the highest festival
in the ecclesiastical year. the services
are brought to close. In eommemoration
Of the resurrection Of Christ The word
Easter Is derived from ostAra, the old
Teuionie name OF the goddess OF spring.
whose feast was replaced by the com.
Of the resurrection Of Christ.