The Raymer enterprise., 1918-03-21

The procession moves slowly round the church,
stopping at intervals before the various altars
The bier Is rested at each until sermon In
different language Is preached The figure Is
finally rested upon the stone of unctiOn, which Is
In front Of the holy sepulcher. and the last sermon
Is then preached After the sermon the figure Is
again lncensed, prayers are reclted 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
greens. and there Is held the Service Of resur-
rectIon." The friars 60 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
ters proceed to the holy sepulcher and the blessed
sacrament Is brought out In triumph. In gorgeous
procession, amid hymns and the peallng Of the
organ, 1t Is carried round through the various
chapels. and finally to the high altar where the
solemn .benedIct0n 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 first 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 80 service In the afternoon the
chanting Of the Office Of compline is followed by
the solemn benedlctlon Of the blessed sacrament
If Easter day be bright and sunny. such Of the
grounds Of the church and monastery as may be
explored by the public are filled with sightseers
after this song service They wander through
the wellkept grounds and generally find their way
to the grotto of Lourdes lying In little valley to
the south Of the monastery. This Is a facsimile
reproduction of the famous shrine Of the Pyre-
nees, created by the Franciscan friars here for
the beneG; Of those pilgrims who cannot see the
famous grolto Of miraculous Eeai.ng In It's native
home In the south OF France
1t is only urtn special occasions that one may
penetrate the set'lsi0r OK the beautiful cl0sters
and courtyard OF tie monastery, the great severe
ly plain rectangular building behind The church.
The courtyard, with ;.s uncovered cstern In
the center, Is a spot Of rich be..aty. which lends
additional charm to the graceful ambulatory,
where the friars take exercise ond recrest tion In
inclement 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.