The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 15, 1906, Page 2

Elttending Vatican Geremonials e st 4 e 12 et i s 43, ZIE I IS IBIG WA~ (\ W7 AN ANSSE § I \ Hlre Viewed by Thousands of Devout Catholic Pilgrims o sing g a weas smiling, friend naivete ey ch ever spe Ita the people— blossom the ess with beautiful by the won- iisite scenery and ng long and are music of the cen Week whole is heard v ha rit ccount of the m nder the directior The choir of is paid by the lattice w ing the at the ser organ two ch s twe dern orga ten of the re singers see it on hu ton should it break lown during a service Throughout Hol 1 the shops are decorated. or grocers' shops, an strung together, and arranged n fanciful are stalned r bright colors e piled up in pyramids or arrange scallops and ve as a frieze, while the rear of the shop I8 an flluminated picture of the Madonna Palm Sunday is usually considered the first day of Holy Week, though strietly speaking it is not within that limit. But special services begin on that day, After mass and the blessing of the palms there procession of the priests, thelr at- ts and the congregation, bearing loft, chanting as they march. It the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem. The palms mean victory. fter this day there is nothing speajal mtil Wednesday, when the first Tenebrae service is held, rcpeated on Thursday and At the beginning of this service re is placed on the altar a triangular candelabrum, in which are fifteen candles of unbleached wax. On the high altar are six candles of the same wax. At matins all are iighted. At 'the end of each one of these candles, taking the psalm outer one, first one side and then the te=extinguished wntil* only one shted one is left at the apex. At the Benedictus the candles on the high altar are extinguished. At this point the clerk attendance takes the one lighted candle and hides it. The extinguished candles the darkness over the world when as crueified. The one left lighted and concealed signifies that death could not really obtain dominion over Christ. At the end of this service a clapping with wooden clapper on beard or book is symbolic of the confusion at Christ's th, while at the same time the clerk exposes the candle he had hidden to show that the Bavior's death and sacrifice ved the world from utter darkness. er this an’ additional host in silver chalice is consecrated and borme in pro- cegsion to a place prepared for it. The pricsis and attendants chant as they bear and the place where it is left is ed with flowers and ligh.s. th 1e altars are stripped o ‘hrist’s garments being stripped from 1 In 8t. Peter's they used to wash the aitar with wine. The stripping of the is at the present day Zol- wec he washing of the feet of twelv paganda students instead of )f twelve beggars, as formerly, The e iz performed by the principal priest, Sarnt Peterr of Malta deacon ana subaeacon. lafge white apron. The rite is simply dip- ping a small napkin in a basin of water SR Rvenk e of the student’s foot. SUNDAY CALL in all the churches are brililantly illumin- ated and laid out as gardens, with plants and flowers, a cross in gas jets in the midst, or sometimes a figure of Christ. A few years ago when we were in Rome on Holy Thursday we saw Queen Marghe- rita and her suite going from one of the seven principal churches of the city to an- other, remaining in each for a few mo ments of silent prayer. We followed her scarlet liveries: from church to church. We were told that she had declared she would gladly go-on her knees from the Quirinal to the Vatican to be reconciled with the Holy Father. On this day all the bells in the Roman churches are tled and are not rung again untfl Saturday noon. During the celelira- tion of the mass the olls for anointing are blessed by the Bishop, assisted by seven deacons and twelve priests, all vested In whites Three varieties of oil are conse- crated. The first is the oll used in bap- tisms, in consecrating churches and altars, in ordaining priests and In blessing and crowning sovereigns. The second is for extreme unction, administered to the dy- ing. The third is the sacred chrism of cil and the balm of Gilead, used in the conse-s cration of Bishops, patens and chalices and the blessing of bells. During the consecration the Bishop breathes three times in the form of the cross over the vessel, as do also the twelve priests, say- ing “Hall, holy Chrism,” after which all kiss the vessel. Formerly the beating or whacking, heard now only at the Tenebrae serv- fces, went on all day in the streets of Rome, pedestrians frequently recelving it on their backs. The sSmall Roman reveled In this privilege. as the small American does in those of Halloween. In some parts of Italy early Good Friday morning, before sunrise;, the peasants go out beafing the figure of a Madonna; clad In white, to search for 2er Son. After sundown they return, ringing her back dressed In deepest mourning and with a figure of the dead Christ on a bler. Good Friday is the only day in the year on which it is forbidden to ecel brate mass, and on that day the Pope neither wears his ring nor gives his Itach wears 2 neld by an attendant and wiping the top Dblessing. At the beginning of the day's services On this day, Holy Thursday, the chapels a black-draped cross is exposed to view. of ‘t.'dghnf&cth (< ran, Rome. Soon 'after the altar is draped In white. The last miserore is sung. In Sorrento we saw a very interest- ing procession in the evening. First came a large band of musiclans playing a dead march. By the side of each player walked a boy carrying a pole, fastened to which was a lighted lantern to illuminate the score held by the mu- sician. Then came boys and men dressed in deepest Dblack, heads and faces covered except their eyes. On their shoulders were crimson capes, fastened with heavy cords and tassels. After them came priests chanting and bearing & bier on their heads. On the bier was a life-size recumbent figure of Christ, with the crown of thorns. After these came more priests, men and boys in fantastic costumes, representing the guard, the centurions, executioners, Pontius Pilate, the apostles and even Judas. Some were on unshod horses and moved noiselessly. All chanted a dirge. They also carried staves and poles, with swinging lanterns or tall candfes, all lighted, and each bore some emblem of the passion and death of Christ, the cross, the ladder, the ham- mer, the bloody napkin, sponge, etc., and at the end of the procession was borne erect upon a gilt pedestal a fig- ure of the Madonna, dressed in mourn- ing, with crown and a widow's veil The streets were brilliantly {lluminated. All the balconles were filled with light- ed lamps. In one we counted seventeen exactly alike with large globes. At some of the houses colored lights were burned. As the procession passed every- body knelt. Sorrento is a small place, s0 the procession marched up and down, up and down, over the same route for two hours, the band playing and the priests and men chanting thelr mourn- ful dirge. The most interesting gervice that we at- tended in Rome on Good Friday was at San Marcello, on the Corso, In the even- ing, when Palestrina's “Stabat Mater” was given with an orchestra and a quartet of grand .opera singers. There was an immense crowd, and it was a difficult matter to get inside the chureh. The altar ‘was completely concealed by scenery rep- resenting alry, with the three crosses, Jerusalem in the distance. The chancel had the effect of a stage, on which was a wooden model of the tomb of the e of Standing by ‘it was 2 ngur‘ in red and blue. e footlights. The nterspersed _Bavior. the Madonna, dressed Lamps were arranged lik music wag very utifur i through it were the usual “‘seven “nr? or talks of the priests. The gervice la ted until gimost midnight, and when we came out we found the street a solid mass of people. The restaurants andqcales were crowded, for it had been a long, full da= and some sustenance s negded at tne jend of it. Formerly t » wag gompulsory baptism of a ce ber of Jews on Good Friday. T rite was performed in ot St a great basaltic vase in the church John Lateran, the same vase in W Rienzi bathed in 1347 befors Peceiving the insignia of knigithood. Holy Saturday ceremonies be early with tb the new fire wi ch ry of iple- candle. the lamps and incense. fastened to a reed, lig from this fire is carried up the ehuréh by a dea- con, who chants three times the words, “Lumen Christ During the morning celebration of the mass, just before the s of St. Angelo are fired, the bells of the 400 churches of Rome, which have been tied a mute since irsday, are lobsened and all ring out with a wondrously beautiful s forth and “Glory is sung in every Gloria, the gu the Higt This sérvice, tistry of St. Peter’s. Afterward the was a curious and interesting prec sion through the length of the chur of Cardinals, priests and . pilgrims every nation. We noted many R and Polish peasants .in their p and picturesque natienal costumes. knelt with uplifted faces while sacred relics were displayed n a bal cony far above them. In the afternoon there ‘was a servi in San Nicola da Tolen chante: brass and tinkling cymbals. The priests and deacons wore gorgeous robes, hril- lant with scarlet, orange and pt reseda green, pink and gold of the color and sound ¢ barbaric. The priests stoc circle In the chancel, a in the service each tu hand nelghbor, embrac ed his shoulder. The: wild and weird. Saturday afternoon the parish priest goes around from house to housa to bless it and its inhabitants. The priest ted to r i him and kiss- goes first, followed by a boy g a silver vessel holding the water then the master of the followed by the servants. They go first to the salon, where water is sprinkled in four directions, the priest saying: “Bless, Lord! this place, that In It may be health, chastity, vietory, virtus, humil- ity, goodness, sweetness, the fullness of law and thanksgiving, and may -this blessing abide in this place and upon all those who dwell herein.” ‘The priest’s attendant carries a basket, Intc which are dropped a loaf of bread, twa eggs and some money. The priests afx to the doors of the chief “palaces and villas a waxen cross to guard them from evil spirits. As this must be paid for, only the rich are thus guarded On Easter morning all is joy and glad- ness. People greet each other with “Bu- ona festa” or “Buona pasqua™ It is a day of stately and solemn ceremonial. St. Peter’s is decorated with flowers and the Pope himself goes in grand procession to help celebrate the mass. The great cen- tral aisle of St. Peter’s is lined om each side with the Noble Guard, In their beautiful uniforms of white and scarlet, with drooping plumes of white ostrich feathers, and the Swiss Guards, in their wonderful uniforms of secarlet and orange, sald to have been designed by Michael Angelo, and with polished rasses and glittering steel Marching up this brilllant guards come a long proce: nals, chamberlains, bishops dignitaries, and, last, aloft in his chair of state white, on each side of him carrying an enormous fe eyes in these feathers symb or vigilance of the church After mass the Pope goes out a cony overlooking the great plazza of Peter’'s and gives his blessing to crowd assembled in It Formerly v ten prayers and Ind down among the crowd, for. Many FKEaster eeremonials were omitted during the last years of tl of Leo XIIT. He was too aged and feeble to endure them. The lovely sthereal notes of the silver trumpets whioh used to be wafted down from the dome of Michael Angelo ate wo longer heard. helmets. avenue of Igences were to be’ scrar he life Ditectly after the Pape's blessing the guns of 8t Angelo are fired and ate rung Joyously all over the o Pépe Up the cen Stop half way oration to the g the progress ter aisle he never fails to up and Hay homare and & Madonna fn her On Baster Sunday the dinner tables are decked WIth fafers from the holy sepul- elets and & speeial broth, made of lemon and eggs, served only on Baster Sunday, 1s eaten i every home.