Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-19

bolizes. by the gradual darkening OF the
church. the more than natural darkness
that overshadowed the world at the death
OF Christ. 1t Is the preparation which
the Church gives TO its communicates that
they NAV assist with proper dispositions
at the sacred functions which are to
take place on the following days
Tomorrow will be sung the Tenebrae
Of Holy Thursday; on Thursday will be
sung the Office OF Good Friday; on
Friday win be sung the preparation for
the ONCE and Mass OF Easter Eve. In
the earlier ages Of the Church these Of
fees were begun at midnight. They are
now held at an earlier hour that more
may attend.
Few ceremonies Of the Church are more
solemn than the "Tenebrae" Signs OF
mourning are everywhere visible. The
sanctuary appears 70 be deserted and un-
furnished. The tabernacle stands open,
for the Blessed Sacrament has been re-
moved. The veil of the tabernacle, flowers
and all other adornments not essential are
gone Nothing remains on the altar save
a veiled crucifix and six candles, In the
centre Of the sanctuary stands the book
OF Psalms and Lessons. At the Epistle,
or right, side stands a large triangular
candlestick. holding 15 candles of un-
bleached wax.
The service consists Of mathis and
lauds, and is a portion of the Divine Of
flee which every priest of the Church Is
bound to say each day. The lack of adorn-
ment on the altar and in the sanctuary is
carried by the Church into her service OF
prayer, and nothing Is left in the office
save what Is essential to II, the Psalms
and Lessons. The verslcles and hymns,
the invocations and responses which are
used at other times and form the drapery
and adornment with which the Psalms
and Lessons are clothed, are omitted.
The Mathis consist of three parts,
called Nocturns, or night offices. Each
Nocturn Is composed of three Psalms and
three Lessons. The Lauds consist of five
Psalms, followed by the Canticle of Zach
airy (Benedlctus), and the whole Office
is closed with the 50th Psalm (Miserere)
and a Collect.
TYPIFY PASSION OF CHRIST.
The Tenebrae service for Holy Thurs
day in the Psalms and Lessons brings
before the congregation, in most I'M
pressive manner, the Passion of our Saw
iour, and in an especial way the treach-
cry of Judas. In the third Nocturn the
Lessons relate st. Paul's account of the
institution of the Holy Eucharist.
The ceremonies of this service are rich
in symbolism and meaning. At the end
of each Psalm one of the candles in the
triangular candlestick is extinguished un-
til, as the Office proceeds one only is left
shows how the disciples, one by one, for
sook their Master and skunk away. The
one candle that remains allght represents
Christ, forsaken and alone.
During the Canticle of Zachary (Bene-
dictus) the six candles ON the altar are
extingulshed. and the lights in the church
are gradually lowered. The impressive
and solemn growing gloom symbollzes
the MONDAY darkness that covered the
earth at the death of its Creator.
At the end of the Benedictus the single
lighted candle Is hidden behind the altar,
and, in the dlmness, which symbolizes the
gloom on earth after the death of Christ,
the Miserere is solemnly chanted.
A Collect is then said in a low voice
by the senior priest present and con-
fused noise is made to express the con-
vulsions of nature at the death of our
Redeemer, when the earth qualted, the
rocks, split and the graves gave up their
dead
.-, Following this the lighted candle is
brought from behind the altar, to repre-
sent the glorious rising of Christ, immor-
tai from the tomb. after His death and
burial. The Office is then ended and all
depart In silence.
Tomorrow will be Maundy Thursday,
and will be celebrated as the anniver-
sary of the institution of the Holy
Eucharist. The most striking feature OF
the service on that day will be the SOL
'smn procession in Catholic churches from
the High Altar to the Altar of Repose.