Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-21


Of this, they follow and take part in the
various acts OF reparation the priest per-
forms. This fs the keynote to a proper
understanding Of the ceremonies.
The service of this day consists Of a
series Of distinct actions They are divided
into four parts-tIistory, containing the
Prophecies and the Passion according to
st. John; Supplicatlon, containing pubic
prayer for all sorts and conditions of
men; Reparation, containing the unveilng
and alteration of the Cross" and the
Mass of the Presanctifed
The choir and sacred ministers ap-
proach the sanctuary in silence Neither
incense nor lights are carried before them
and the vestinents are OF black. On the
altar is neither missal nor altar cloth.
When the sacred ministers reach the sane
tuary, instead Of beginning with the Gus
tomary public prayer, they PROSTATE them
selves on the ground in silence while
cloth and the book are laid upon the altar.
They then rise and at once proceed to
read the lessons and collects which bring
before the congregation the Paschal Lamb,
the type of the Lamb of God. These les
sons are a preparation for the Passion,
which is St Johns account of the terrible
events of this great day. The Passion is
sung by three deacons Cor priests vested
as deacons) and the choir. One deacon
takes the part of chronicer and sings all
the narrative of the Evangelist Another
deaconcknown as the "Christus." sings in
a low, plaintive chant the words spoken
by Christ Himself The third sings in a
high pitch the words of PLATE, Judas and
Caiaphas. The choir sings the words and
exclamations Of the crowd.
THE PRAYERS.
The second part of the service consists
Of duplication and petition. The idea
of the Church In this action Is to make
intercession with God on this day for all
classes and conditions of men. The
Church bids her children to pray at all
times for the conversion of sinners and
evildoers, but on Good Friday she makes
public an official prayer for those who
are enemies of the Cross of Christ"
The celebrant sings eight prayers, each
of which Is prefaced by few words 20
show its object Before each prayer the
deacon bids the congregation kneel for
n moment, and the subdeacon bids them
rise. This is done to symbolic by bodily
action union In the petition made by the
priest in the name of the people. The
prayers in their order are for the spouse
of Christ" the church of God for the
Vicar of Christ, the Pope for bishops,
priests and other servants of the Church;
for the catechumens; for all In tribulation
and danger for heretcs and schismatics;
for the Jews. and lastly. that the charity
of the Church may embrace all creatures
for whom Jesus shed His blood, comes
the prayer for pagans. Before the
prayer for the Jews the deacon refrains
from bidding the congregation to genu-
fleet, because the Jews turned this mark
of alteration into an insult against Christ
in the crowd of Pilates palace.
UNWILLING OF THE CROSS.
The third action In the service is repara-
tion. The Church desires her commune
cants to make what reparation they can
g.. H. -
by showing honor and veneration to- the
cross in memory of His crucifixion. Ac-
cordingly, the celebrant takes off his cha
suble. the symbol OF his priestly dignity.
in order to be the first to humble himself
on this day of mourning. He receives the
veiled cross, and standing at the side of
the altar, he uncovers small part, rails
ing 1t slightly that the congregation may
see, and chants in low voice Behold
the wood of the cross upon which hung
the salvation of the world; and all kneel
to pay homage to the sign of our redemp-
ton. Mounting nearer the altar, the priest
goes through the same ceremony second
time and then, reaching the centre of the
altar, he removes the veil entirely, and
lifting the cross aloft, chants in n higher
key the same words third time. in mem
ory of our Saviour's words: when shall
have been lifted up, will draw all things
to myself" By this gradual uncovering
of the cross is represented the gradual
preaching to the Jews and afterward to
the Gentiles the great mystery of the
Crucifxion.
The celebrant then places the cruciflx
on a purple cushion at the foot of the
altar and goes to the side, where he re-
moves his shoes, for the place whereon
he stands is holy ground, and then goes
to kiss the figure that represents his dying
Saviour. AS he approaches he kneels
three times and finally kisses devoutly
the symbol of our redemption. All who
are present follow his example, the con-
gregation after the days principal serv-
ice is over.
During this ceremony the choir sings
in plaintive chants the "Reproaches," the
rebukes. loving and gentle, addressed by
the Redeemer to the Jews
The candles on the altar are now lighted
in reverence for the coming presence of
the Blessed Sacrament The clergy go In |
procession to the altar of repose and bring |
back to the high altar the Blessed Sacra- |
ment, which has been reserved there In a |
chaIice since the Mass of Holy Thursday. |
During the procession the choir sings the
"Vexilla Regis"
On Good Friday alone throughout the
Christian year the Catholic Church sus-
pends the Offering of the Holy Sacrifice
of the Mass that the thoughts of the |
faithful may be wholly taken up with the
of the one sacrifice which
was consummated on this day on Calvary.
The Blessed Sacrament, which the cele-
brant receives on Good Friday, was conse-
Grated Cor presanctihed) on Holy Thurs
day. Consequently. since there is no ac-
tual sacrifice on this day, this part of the
service is known as the Mass Of the Pre-
sanctified."