Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1918-03-21

The procession moves slowly round the church,
stopping at intervals before the various affairs
The bier is rested at each until sermon in a
different language Is preached. The figure is
finally rested upon the stone of JUNCTION, which is
In front Of the holy sepucher, and the last
is then preached. After the sermon the figure is
again incensed, prayers rected and the dead
Christ is laid to rest for another year in the holy
sepulcher.
On Holy Saturday, or Easter eve, quite NUM-
Der OF old liturgical rites are observed at the
Church Of the Holy Sepulcher. Chief among them
is the blessing of the paschal candle at the nine
o'clock morning service
On the evening of Holy Saturday the church is
beautifully decorated with Easter flowers and
green's, and there Is held the service of resur-
rection." The friars go to the part of the church
in front Of the holy sepulcher and then chant the
solemn mathis Of the resurrection. At the con-
clusion of this Office the celebrant and his minis
tiers proceed to the holy sepulcher and the blessed
sacrament is brought out in triumph In gorgeous
procession amid hymns and the pealing Of the
organ, 1t is carried round through the various
chapels, and finally to the high altar where the
solemn benediction is bestowed, and the first
service of Easter is over.
The Easter Sunday masses, following the GUS
tom of those in Jerusalem, are said in the holy
sepulcher every half hour from 80 in the morn
ing At nine o'clock solemn high mass is said
at the central altar, when the gorgeous Easter
music is beautifully rendered by the monastery
choir before congregation which crowds the
great edifce. A custom of several years. standing
at the FIST service Of Easter Sunday is the at
tendance in body Of large number of Howard
university students, who walk out to the monas-
terry church to partake Of the early Easter sacra-
ment At the $3.50 service in the afternoon the
chanting Of the Office of compline is followed by
the solemn benediction of the blessed sacrament.
If Easter day be bright and sunny, such of the
grounds of the church and monastery may be
explored by the public are filed with sightseers
after this song service. They wander through
the well-kept grounds and generally find their way
to the grotto of Lourdes lying in little valley to
the south of the monastery. This is facsimile
reproduction of the famous shrine of the Pyre-
nees. created by the franciscan friars here for
the benefit of those pilgrims who cannot see the
famous grotto of miraculous healing in It's native
home In the south of France.
II is only upon special occasions that one may
penetrate the seclusion of the beautiful closters
and courtyard of the monastery, the great.
ly plain rectangular building behind the church.
The courtyard, with its vine-covered cstern in
the center is spot of rich beauty, which lends
additional charm to the graceful ambIlatory,
where the friars take exercise and recreation in
incement weather. Nor may one, except by spe-
cial privilege. penetrate the beautiful private
grounds of the monastery and enjoy the
exquisitely kept garden and grounds which the
monks have created behind their home.