Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28
CHURCH IS JOYFUL
AMDLENTEN WOE
Maundy Thursday, Anniver-
sary of Last Supper, Elab-
orately Observed

With services impressive and elaborate.
contrasting with Lenten somberness and
gloom, Maundy or Holy Thursday-the
anniversary Of the Last Supper--is being
celebrated today in all the Catholic
churches. Special services also are held
in many Protestant churches.
This marks the first of the major
services Of Holy Week in the Catholic
Church. Tomorrow Good Friday will be
celebrated and on the next day Holy
Saturday. Tomorrow special services
will be held in honor of the ceath OF
world. On Saturday in the Catholic
churches will be blessed the Easter
water, the Paschal candle, the new fire
and other services will be held. This
service marks the conclusion of Lent.
The principal services today took place
In the Cathedral at 10 o'clock. when
Bishop John J. McCort. administrator
OF the archdiocese of Philadelphia, cele-
brated pontifical high hass. During the
mass were blessed the holy oils used in
the church In the administration OF
various sacraments.
Bishop McCort presided at the cere-
mony Of the blessing of the oils. The
Very Rev. DIR. L. J. Fitzmaurice, vicar
general and chancellor of the diocese.
was a. cnrriest; the Revs. Richard +.
Kelly and Joseph NJ. OHara, deacons
Of the mass; Edward y. O'Reilly. bish-
ops cross-bearer. The Revs, Thomas
#. Mentally and Charles B. Mckinley
were distributors of the holy oils, as
sisted by Henry L. Mccormick and theo-
logical students from st. Charles's SEM
mary. The assisting ministers were
also seminarians. $50 OF whom partici-
pated In the procession and sang the
/. musical accompaniment of the cere-
monies.
The chrism is used in the ordination
of priests, in the sacrament of confirma-
ton and AZ baptism. The oleum infor-
morum (oil of the infirm or sick) Is used
In the sacrament of extreme JUNCTION, ad-
ministered to the dying. The oleum
.catechumenorum (oil of the catechu-
mens) IL used in the sacrament OF bap-
tism.
Holy Thursday is the one day in the
mournful period of Holy Week when the
service changes from one Of gloom and
sorrow to splendor and gorgeousness.
Tho Gloria In Excelsis is sung during
the mass for the only time in Lent and
the bells are rung.
At the conservation two hosts are
blessed. one Of which Is used in the mass
Of the day The other wafer at the
conclusion of the service is borne in
elaborate procession 10 a gorgeously
decorated tabernacle at one of the side
affairs, where IL Is exposed for veneration
until the following day. when prior to
tho mass it Is similarly escorted to the
main altar. This observance gives 10
tcday's ceremony the name of the mass
Of the pressnctifled.
All the Catholic churches throughout
the city today were thronged both
during and after the morning services.
by pious visitors. Many OF the reposi-
tories were hidden by varihued flowers
and hundreds OF candles. These taber-
nacies will be stripped tomorrow-Good
Ffiday--when the church commentaries
the Crucinxion with a single mass
devoid Of all music or trappings of color.
The Anglican churches In the city.
Is well a. those Of the Episcopallan, n,
Lutheran and other denominations. OBJ
served the day with appropriate serv-
Ices Tenebrae will be sung this eve
ming In the Catholic churches while
musical programs and communion serv-
icoa will take place In other houses OF
Vernhip.
n The Story Of the Cross" a Lenten
eontats by Dudley Buck. will be sung
fonight BY the senior choir OF seventy
1ve voices 1t Cooknan Methodist Eps-
ocDAi Church, Twelfth street and Le-
( high avenue. Miss Mildred Jones will be
Tho soprano: Henry Gurney. tenor: Miss
XAa1e PAck, contralto, and George Emes,
ln|titons. hrs. Fred G. Hudson viii be
; - ths organ. and Mr.. George b. G.
X GrznaA will direct
Rxocoolne the cantata there will be
( 3 devoetunai service. led by the pastor,
~ Rpv. nichard Radcliffe.