Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-03-28

are. on either side. two monuments, one of Mary
Maghalene; the other known us the "Pieta' and
representing the lifelcss body of Christ In the
arms of his mother after the descent from the
cross,
The distance from this representation of Mount
Calvary to the holy s~epulcher, across the length
of the great church, is about the same as are the
originals from each other in Jerusalem. and the
height is the same as Mount Calvary.
Beneath the Church of the Holy Sepulcher Is a
series of underground chambers which are true
copies Of several OF the sacred spots in Palestine.
The Faster services ut Mount st. Sepulcher ac-
tually commence n week before, for the rites of
holy week are hut a preparation for the glorious
celebration Of Easter. They are carried out with
full detail and l%iturgical %splendor and after the
manner Of those at Jerusalem, the seat Of the
actual shrines Of Christ, where the franciscan
friars have been the custodians since 1923, when
the fervor and piety Of st. Francis won this right
for himself and his followers.
The first service of holy week takes place Palm
Sunday with the nine o'clock mass, when the
celebrant blesses and distributes the palms at the
central altar. After this the traditional process
sion takes place, In representation of our Lords
%trlumphal entry into Jerusalem, when the multi
tudes waved palm branches before him and shout.
ed "Hosannah to the Highest" THIS service is
similar to that now celebrated in Jerusalem at
Tx SHuICu VI tIe IIDly SepuIcneT. -
After the procession round the monastery
church at Washington. high mass Is celebrated
and the passion sung according to the gospel of
st. Matthew.
Late on Wednesday afternoon the mathis Of
Holy Thursday, commonly called Tenebrae, are
sung in the church, which is but dimly lighted.
Holy Thursday, or Maundy Thursday. Is q day
of festival because 1t is the anniversary Of the in
~stitntion Of the Lords supper.
Good Erjdov NJ ~, (b,,uoh - 49,. YJo1, G .s..,
cher is observed with rites Of unique ~solemnity.
At the morning service Of this day no one save
the celebrant receives the holy communion. No
mass Is celebrated In any Catholic church on this
day. In black vestments, accompanied by his
ministers, the celebrant goes to the altar, which
Is bare but for the candlesticks and crucinx COW
cred with a purple cloth. The %oficiant and min
listers PROSTATE themselves before the altar dur.
ing the singing Of part of the Scriptures. Then
while kneeling a plain white linen cloth is spread
upon the bare altar, which is now in darkness.
The passion, according to st. Johns gospel. Is
then sung by three deacOns, as on Palm Sunday,
after which the crucifix on the main altar Is I'M.
yelled and brought down to the altar steps, where
clergy and people venerate 1t. During this cere-
mony all the ~cruciaxes in the church have been
unveiled. ,&." f....
After the veneration Of the crucifx the friars
form in procession and proceed to the holy sep
'N">A "A>" Wv shs' ~ pAOuhht bpNh lI
solemn state to the central altar. The oficinnt
then consumes the sacred species and the clergy
leave the altar In silence.
The Good Friday evening service at the Church
Of the Holy Sepulcher Is unique in this country,
and represents the burial Of our Lord. following
closely that performed ut Jerusalem. The church
Is In comparative darkness and the scenes In this
dim light take on IN added solemnity. Previous
to this service the figure Of Christ has been taken
from its year-long resting place in the holy sep.
ulcher and Is now reclining on a bier In front
Of the representations Of Mount Calvary. The
figure Is %lncensed: prayers are said, and. follow.
Ing the first Of q series Of sermons In various
languages Is preached from the spot.
Then the solemn procession IL formed. The
dead Christ on the bier, purity covered by n pafl
IL borne by the monks. Preceding this, at the
head Of the cortege, are carried representation
Of the crown Of thorns, Of the three nails which
pierced hands and feet, Of the spear which wound.
Cd the side and Of tho sponge filled with vinegar
which they gave him to drink.