The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-03-22
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are on either side, two monuments. of Mary
Magdalene; the other known the "Peta" and
representing the ifeless body Of Christ In the
arms of his mother after the descent from the
The distance from this representation of Mount
Calvary to the holy sepucher, across the length
OF the great church. is about the same are the
originals from each other in Jerusalem. and the
height Is the Mount Calvary.
Beneath the Church Of the Holy Sepucher Is .
series Of underground chambers which true
copies of several Of the sacred spots In Palestine.
The Easter services at Mount st. Sepulcher ac-
tually commence week before. for the rites OF
holy week but preparation for the glorious
celebration of Easter. They are carried out with
full detail and liturgica 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 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
triumphal 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
the Church Of the Holy Sepulcher
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 Wednesday afternoon the mathis Of
Holy Thursday. commonly called Tenebrae,
sung In the church. which is but dimy lighted.
Holy Thursday. Maundy Thursday, is a day
Of festival because 1t is the anniversary Of the in
stitution Of the Lords supper.
Good Friday at the Church Of the Holy Sepul-
cher is observed with rites Of unique solemnity.
At the morning service Of this day no 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 Gov
cred with a purple cloth. The ofhciant and min
listers PROSTATE themselves before the altar dur
ing the singing of part Of the Scriptures. Then
while kneeling plain white linen cloth il spread
upon the bare altar. which 10 now in darkness.
The passion according to st. Johns gospel, II
then sung by three deacons. on Palm Sunday,
after which the crucinx the main altar is un-
yelled and brought down to the altar steps. where
clergy and people venerate II. During this cere-
mony all the cruci1xes in the church have been
unveiled.
After the veneration Of the crucinx the friars
form In procession and proceed to the holy sep
ulcher, when the sacrament is brought back in
solemn state to the central altar. The oficiant
then consumes the sacred species and the clergy
leave the altar in silence.
The Good Friday evening service at the Church
Of the Holy Sepucher is unique in this country,
and represents the burial Of Lord, following
closely that performed at Jerusalem. The church
Is In comparative darkness and the scenes in this
dim light take on an added solemnity. Previous
to this service the figure Of Christ has been taken
from its yearlong resting place In the holy sep
ulcher and Is now reclining a bier in front
Of the representations Of Mount Calvary. The
figure Is incensed; prayers said. and. follow
ing the first Of a series Of sermons In various
languages Is preached from the spot.
Then the solemn procession IL formed. The
dead Christ on the bier. partly covered by a pail
is borne by the monks Preceding this, at the
head Of the cortege. are carried representations
Of the crown Of thorns of the three nails which
pierced hands and feet, of the spear which wound
ed the side and Of the sponge filed with vinegar
which they gave him to drink