The Donaldsonville chief., 1914-04-04
HOLY WEEK SERVICES.
Solemn Rites Marking Close Of Lent
en- Period to Begin Next Thurs
day-How Catholic Church Cele-
brates the Coming Of Easter.

day-HoW Catholic Church Sefe-
brates the Coming Of Easter.
Commencing April 9, Manndy
Thursday, the local Catholic church
will inaugurate the series Of special
services peculiar to Holy Week with
the usual solemn morning mass, fol-
lowed by procession carrying the
blessed sacrament to the altar pre-.
pared for it. One custom in larger
cities, where bishop or archbishop
is available, will not be observed
here It is that of washing the
feet OF twelve men. In New Or
leans the archbishop viii wash the
feet OF twelve orphans. In Spain
the King of Spain will follow out
the custom in the morning and in
the afternoon the Queen of Spain
will wash the feet of twelve women
In the church the affairs are diVest-
ed Of all ornaments, stripped bare,
save one, which is adorned with flow
ers and prepared to receive the
blessed sacrament.
On Good Friday special services
begin by reading the lessons on the
passion of Christ, according to the
gospel of st. John, after which fol-
lows the mass Of the Presanctified.
In the evening the services center
about the Stations of the Cross, il
Illustrating the fourteen stages of
Christ's passion.
Holy Saturday begins by the strik-
Ing of new fire at the door of the
church, from which piece Of wood
is lighted, which in turn lights the
candles OF the church. Usually the
fire is struck from flint, but mod
ernlty and lack of the necessary
flint Is responsible for most of the
Catholic churches using an ordinary
match for the ceremony.
After the new fire follows the
blessing Of paschal candle. Then the
reading OF the twelve prophesies
from the book of Genesis. The main
ceremony consists Of the blessing of
the water in the baptismal fount, the
principal church service of the day.
From Holy Thursday until Satur-
day morning no bells ring in the
church, but On Saturday morning the
bells ring the Hallelujah, after the
blessing of the holy water. and then
mass closes the special services for
holy Week.
Easter morning the usual church
services are held with the addition of
special program arranged for the
occasion.
Many peculiar customs coincident
With Easter celebrated in early cen.
lures have been prohibited or aban-
aoned. such as the custom orig
mating in Bavaria in the fifteenth
century, when the priest told funny
ssofies TO make his hearers laugh. |
a.aalhg a moral in the story. This
"as pfehibited three centuries later.
80 sh Es wonder what the connection
- hsster with eggs is. Because eggs
a.e loFbioden during Lent they are
aa o1.asat to the table on Easter day
aha are cotored red to symho1ize
assef JOY. This is custom pre-
saient In Oriental as well As in 7 .atin
ernh,a sngtenes. The egg is considered the
~ Hslem .a OF termination. significant
u n. sae LIE of early spring.
me Easter rabbit laws the eggs
fha nnAch reason they are hidden in |
h,s ae nest Or in the garden. The rab-
haaa bes Is q pagan symbol and has always
Oesa e. the the emblem of fertility,
Al, IN olden days games were in
aals aaa.sed in on Easter day. In France.
ps.l npanooall, also played in England ~ |
paiy st. Edwards, within racenf
vars. the game was kent IN NV hy
s" we've old women, On Easter Mon. |
stay. sss the women had the right to
..ahe daa their husbands, and on Tues- |
~ asy the men could strike their wives
nara ar.ae north of England the men
ana antaae the streets on Easter SUNDAY |
aaa aas eiaim the privilege Of Iiftine |
s.s s.sry woman three times from fbe
sound sss ana receiving in pavmant -
a.ss or silver sixpence Tba next
"a. the same thing is done hv tba
~ somen to the men. In nrov;nne ne
y " germany the men servants rs Win s1in
Ea..ai M maid servants with switches m
na ss.er Sunday. On Mondav .ba ba
saa, sas,us whip the men servants TFay
release with Easter eggs.