“ Voices within, representing the angels in heaven greeting the entry of Jesus into the Eternal Jerusalem, sing the praises of Christ in the beautiful hymn Gloria Laus. The choir without, representing man celebrating the entry of the Son of David into the earthly Jerusalem, repeats the strain of praise. After six verses of this immortal hymn of the Prisoner-Bishop, Theodulph, have been thus chanted, the Sub-Deacon strikes with the cross the door, which immediately opens and the procession enters—as Jesus opened for us by His Cross the gates of the heavenly Jerusalem. ”

“ The Mortifications of Lent have brought our minds into sympathy with the penitential spirit of the church, and the gloom growing more and more intense during Passion Week has prepared our hearts so that putting away all worldliness as Moses put off the shoes from his feet we might stand in the holy place of our Lord's Passion. ”

“ In solemn procession the holy oil is brought before the Bishop, the priests and deacons chanting meanwhile the beautiful hymn of St. Fortunatus. The Bishop then blesses the Oil of the Sick, prefacing the blessing by an exorcism, in order to drive away the influence of the evil ones, who, out of hatred for man, do infest the creatures given to us for our use.
After the oil is blessed, the Bishop returns to the altar, and proceeds with the mass until after the Communion, when he returns to the place prepared for the blessing of the oils. ”

“ The celebrants and attendants go in procession from the Sacristy to the vestibule of the Church, where the fire and incense are to be blessed as the holy women and apostles seeking the sepulchre go forth from the city. The prayers in the blessings contain beautiful allusions. After the blessing some of the fire is put into the thurible, when the celebrant incenses the fire and the five grains of incense, which have first been sprinkled with holy water. A candle is lighted from the blessed fire that the new light may be brought into the Church. ”

“ Twelve priests assist as witnesses and co-operators of the Holy Chrism Seven deacons and seven sub-deacons assist to carry the oils and to guard them. In the Cathedral of New York a special set of magnificent vestments is used on this day. The vestments are of the richest silk, beautifully and artistically embroidered by hand, each chasuble and dalmatic and tunic bearing a different device, skillfully wrought, the designs being in complete harmony, from the mitre of the archbishop through all the pieces of the pontifical vestments down to the maniple of the last sub-deacon. ”

“ Everywhere are most touching allusions to the Passion. The Glory be to the Father is hushed on Passion Sunday: the vestments are expressive of her mourning save when on Maunday Thursday for a little while she allows white to be used to express her joy that her Lord has left her a memorial of Himself in the Blessed Sacrament. ”

“ The singing of the Passion is in reality a dramatic representation. The narrative is given by a strong, manly tenor voice. The words of Our Saviour are in a deep, solemn bass, and whatever is spoken by any other person is given in a high contralto. Each part has its particular cadence of old, simple, but rich chant suited to the character represented. ”

“ In the Mass there is no Introit, because all have been for a long time present. The Mass proceeds as usual with the exception of the organ which is not played until the celebrant intones the Gloria in Excelsis. Then organ and bells peal forth the joyous tidings of the Resurrection. The purple Altar veil is removed, the statues and pictures areun covered. After the Epistle, a subdeacon goes to the throne, and addressing the Bishop, says, "Holy Father, I announce to you great joy, that is "Alleluia," when the celebrant repeats thrice the joyful "Alleluia" each time with an increase of gladness ”

“ To understand the services of Holy Saturday it is necessary to recall the fact that for nearly a thousand years the discipline of the Latin Church forbade the offering of the sacrifice of the Mass on Holy Saturday as well as on Good Friday, in remembrance of the time when the body of Our Lord lay lifeless in the tomb. ”

“ Naturally the mass is the part in which this joy predominates. Though her pictures and images and crucifixes are still veiled, yet the Cross is covered with white, the Altar is decorated, and the candles are of white wax. In Cathedral Churches, the Bishop always pontificates on Holy Thursday, and during the mass blesses the Holy Oils, a function which we will describe later. ”

“ The celebrant takes off the chasuble, the badge of his priesthood, in order that the reparation which he is the first to offer to the outraged Christ, may be made with all possible humility. Standing on the step near the Epistle side of the Altar with his face turned toward the people, he receives the cross from the deacon, and unveiling the upper part as far as the arms, he raises it and sings the words—"Ecce Lignum Crucis" Behold the wood of the Cross! ”

“ Towards the end of the veneration of the Cross, the candles are lighted and the deacon spreads a corporal upon the Altar upon which the Blessed Sacrament is to be placed. Then follows the procession to the chapel in which the Host consecrated the day before has been kept. The deacon takes the chalice which contains the host and places it upon the Altar. The priest having adored the Blessed Sacrament, takes the chalice and proceeds in solemn procession to the High Altar. During the procession the triumphant hymn of the Cross "Vexilla regis" is sung. ”

“ Then joined by the deacon and sub-deacon he continues "on which hung the salvation of the world!" the people kneeling down and venerating the Cross while the choir sings these words "Venite adoremus" come let us adore. The first exposition, in a low tone of voice, represents the fear of the Apostles when first preaching the Cross not daring to speak of the great mystery, except to the few faithful disciples of Jesus. For the same reason the priest only slightly raises the Cross. This homage is intended as a reparation for the insults and injuries offered to Christ in the house of Caiphas. ”

“ The people, weakened by the long and arduous Lenten Fast, needed all their remaining strength for the celebration of the Divine Offices and for prayer in commemoration of the sufferings of Christ.
By a decree of Theodosius, A. D. 389, all law business and all pleadings were forbidden during the seven days preceding and the seven days following Easter. The only exception made was for the legal process necessary in emancipating slaves. The Church obliged Christian masters to give their slaves entire rest from labor during this fortnight. ”

“ From the fact that on Maunday Thursday public sinners were reconciled to the church this week was known as "The Week of Indulgence." But it is most commonly called The Holy Week on account of the holiness of the mysteries celebrated.
2. Observance.—In the early church Holy Week was distinguished by the increased severity of the fast. St. Epiphanius tells us that some Christians observed a strict fast from Monday morning to the dawn of Easter. Many observed this severe fast for two, three and four days. The general practice was to fast from all food from Maunday Thursday to Easter morning. ”

“ The tabernacle is left open to show that its Divine Guest has departed. In many Catholic countries and especially at Rome, the custom of washing the feet of twelve poor men is yet observed in commemoration of the humility of Our Lord in washing the feet of His disciples. ”

“ Thursday of Holy Week is called Maundy Thursday from the "mandatum" or precept, the first word of the antiphon, "A new commandment I give you," which is sung while the feet of certain poor men are washed, as directed in the office of the day. ”

“ The ministers go to the foot of the Altar and prostrate themselves, praying in silence while the acolytes cover the Altar with a single cloth instead of the three which are always required when Mass is celebrated. ”

“ The music like the words is concentrated with rightful energy, and consists of just as many notes as syllables. Yet in the three notes of the last word a passage of key is effected simple as it is striking. The effect is rendered far more powerful by a most abrupt termination. The entire harmony is given in a quick but marked, so to speak stamping way, well suiting the tumultous outcries of a fierce mob. In the three choruses of St. ”