The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-04-09
MAUNDY THURSDAY FOOT-WASHING TO BE PERFORMED BY ALFONSO.

ALFONSO.
 Today is Maundy Thursday, when the Catholic church commemmorates the institution of the sacrament of the eucharist by Christ. For cen turies the observances of this day have been associated with royalty. and in Spain the Maundy Thursday. ceremony of the washing of the feet of the poor by their sovereign is still. observed. The name of Maundy is supposed to have been derived from .snande,'' hand-basket from which monarchs were accustomed to distri- bute aims among the poor. On this day it has long been the custom for English sovereigns or their aImoners to give aims, food and clothing to as many poor persons as they were years old. It was commenced by Ed ward III. in 1863, and is still con- tinued, although British nlonarchs no longer personally attend to the dis tribution.
 The religious; significance of the day is that on Thursday, the eve of the Passion, Jesus took bread. bless ed it and distributed it among his apostles, saying. Take and eat; this is my body, which shall be delivered for you.'' Then he took the chalice, and, after blessing it, said: Drink ye all of this; for this is the cI1alice of my blood, which shall be shed for you.''
 The following description of the foot-washing ceremony, as performed by King Alfonso of Spain, is supplied by member of the royal family, Duchess of Seville:
 e.Maundy Thursday was a busy day for the royal family They went in solemn procession to the salon de Columnas for the ceremony of washing of feet. The altar was cens- ed and the gospel read. The gran dees and nobles then removed the shoes and stockings of the poor men brought in for the ceremony The papaI representative. helped by the Bishop, the one holding a basin and the other a jug of silver and gilt, poured water on the feet of the poor and the King, kneeling before each man, wiped his feet with a towel and kissed them. This humble act ac- complished, the poor took their places at the. tables and the King ! waited on them. There was an eIab- crate menu, but no meats, as Maun- dy Thursday is a day of abstinence from meat. Standing at one end of the table the Bishop blessed the | dishes, which were then handed by l the grandees to the King. who plac- ed one before each poor man. There l were about twelve courses, followed 1 by buildings, cheese, fruit and a jug l consumed, however, but all was plac-
 ed in a large basket and sold for the poor, who had more need of the good
 prices brought for the food than of
 such a sumptuous dinner. Each man received besides a purse con
 taining money. When it is a queen
 who reigns over Spain, she washes 1 the feet of poor women, but she
 serves dinner to men,
 Maundy Thursday in Catholic
 countries is generally observed as a holiday, and a great deal of the
 mourning that characterizes Holy |
 thanksgiving for the gift of the eu-
 charist. Solemn high mass begins
 the day, after which the Blessed
 Sacrament is carried in procession ! with pomp and ceremony, to the al tar, which is decorated with flowers and lighted by many candles The
 altar also bears statues of the pro- phets. patriarchs and saints. The
 consecrated Host is permitted to re- l main on the altar for the adoratior of the people until the followins 2 i morning. Tn most Catholic coun- 1 tries it is the custom, although not an obligation, to visit six churches
 on Maundy Thursday. The sacred
 edifices are crowded, as many Cath olics attend services on this day whc l forget their religious duties on al
 other days of the year. During the l night the a1tars are stripped of theil I decorations and draped in black 1T l preparation for the solemn and sor- I rowful ceremonies of Good Friday.