Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1913-03-13
CHURCHES READY
FOR PALM SUNDAY
Will Have Solemn Services ant
Special Music.
NEXT WEEK IS "H0LY WEEK"
Singing Of the Tenebrse Next We'd
nesday, Thursday and Friday
Good FRIDAY.


The most solemn week in the ee-
clesiastica year begins next Sunday,
when Christ's triumpha entry into
Jerusalem Is TO be commemorated.
The day Is known as Palm Sunday.
In every Catholic church ia the world
and in number of Protestant church
es the day will be celebrated with
solemn and impressive services and
in all christian churches it marks the
beginning OF Holy Week. On Palm
Sunday, the priests of the Catholic
churches wear purple robes without
the chacible or heavy embroidered
vestment. last week the statues, cruel
fixes and paintings wsre covered
with purple cloths in commemoration
Of Christ's passion.
On Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday evenings at ST. Mary's Church
the Tenebrae will be sung. The Tene
brae is q picturesque ceremony, a
triangular csndelabra being placed
before the altar and as each lesson
is sung one Of the candles is extin-
gulshed. This is continued until only
the center candle remains aud this
is taken back Of the altar to repre-
sent Chfist's hiding Himself from
those who meant TO harm Him while
He was preaching in the Temple.
After being taken behind the altar
the candle is again brought out and
the candles are again lighted.
On Thursday, there will be com
memorateG the Last Supper and the
altars Will be profusely decorated
with rich blooming flowers and plants
At the Cathedral, in Baltimore, Car
1inaI Gibbons or Bishop Corrigan will
bless the oils which are used in the
sacranents. This includes the oils
used in Baptism. Confirmation, Holy
Orders and Extreme Unction. The
Tenebrae will again ne sung and prep
arations will be made for the most
solemn day, Cool Friday
In many European countries the
cere mony Of washing the feet is still
preserved, and one Of the chief figure
of royal humility is that of Emperor
Franz Josef Of Austria, who washes
the feet Of twelve of the poorest men
of his country. This he does in com
memoration of Christ washing the
feet of His apostles. In years gone
by this &C, Of humility was practiced
a great deal more than it is today,
but in some sections of the Old World
is adhered TO religiously.
In lieu of this in this country and
ia SONS of the European countries
the faithful 60 to as many churches
as they can, in order to pray and pre-
pare for the day to follow. Some, OF
course, there are who 60 not to pray
but to see the floral decorations. A
number If the Protestant Episcopal
churches are decorated with flowers
on Holy Thursday in honor Of the
Last Supper.
On Good Friday no mass is said in
the Catholic church. This is the me
day in the year that there is no con-
secration of the Host. o. Holy
Thursday Host is consecrated and
this is placed liz thu Tabernacle and
used on Good Friday morning. The
oil lamps before the sanctuaries are
extinguished and kept so until Satur-
day morning. At O'Clock in the
afternoon the ceremony of the Sta
tions OF the Cross, by which is shown
Christ's journey from the court to
Calvary. is held and the Tenebrae is
sung.
On Saturday a fire obtained by
striking flint and steel is used to re-
light the lamps before the altars, and
the Pascal Candle is blessed. The
bells are silenced on Holy Thursday.
Coed Friday and Holy Saturday, and
until the dawn of Easter Sunday,
when the church celebrates the joyful
Feast of the Resurrection. The altars
are ad 1rned with flowers and pl ants,
the priests wear vestments befittinp
the day, and special musical programs
are rendered.
Throughout Christendom Easter
Sunday is consideed the most joyful
day of the year, even supsssing Christ.
mas Day, for the latter simply marks
the beginning of a life Of humility
and suffering for the benefit of man.
kind