Friends at Court GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 12, 21 March 1907, Page 3

Friends at Court GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

•March 24, Sunday.— Palm Sunday. „ 25, Monday. — Monday in Holy Week. y „ 26, Tuesday.— Tuesday in Holy Week. " „ 27 ' Wednesday.— Wednesday in Holy Week. ■, „ 28, Thursday.— Holy Thursday. „ 29, Friday.— Good Friday. „ 30, Saturday.— Holy Saturday. Holy Thursday. For a short time to-day the Church puts off he: mourning. At the - Mass her ministers are vested in white, the- bells are heard, the organ peals forth. For a moment she desists from her meditations on the sufferings of her' Divine Founder to contemplate the tender love which led Him to institute the Blessed Eucharist on the very night before 'His Crucifixion. In cathedral churches the Bishop consecrates the . Holy Oils which are used in the administration of certain sacraments, and also in some ecclesiastical functions. Good Friday. . _ - This day. is called ' Good ' because on it we were liberated from the dominion _of Satan, and the happiness whiqh God had in view in creating us was'placeft once more within our roach. We must not forget, however, by what means this was accomplished, and * that the day so pregnant with blessings for us was marked by unspeakable sufferings on the part of our Divine Redeemer, who for our sake yielded Himse l^ to a shameful death. This should be the subject of mr^ meditations to-day. We • cannot enter the church v> bhout being reminded of -it. At the morning office he celebrant and his ministers are vested in black, "a. id ' the histolry of the Fassion is chanted. When the ceremonies are over, the jaltar is 'bared of its ornaments. -The statues and images of the saints remain' veiled. The crucifix alone is uncovered — a striking reminder of the intensity^ of God's love for man, and in particular an emblem of hope to the repentant sinner. Holy Saturday. Holy Saturday is consecrated to the memory -of.-' our Blessed Saviour's burial. 'Until Sunday morning (the time of the Resurrection) the Church- continues the weeping widow by the grave .of her Divine Spoiuse. But in the- midst of her grief there . are gleams of joy. 'We feel that she has faith in the mystery so soon to follow. .In blessing the. Paschal candle, the deacon, who is, as -it were, the herald -of heaven to announce the glad tidings of the Resurrection, seems carried away by enthusiasm as he exclaims -in words attributed to St/ Augustine : ' Let the angels of heaven, the hosts above, exult and thrill with gladness, and let the sound of trumpets proclaim our joyous sacrifice. Let the earth be _ filled with bliss, and let it revel in the glorious light that has burst upon it. And do thou, our Mother, Holy Church, rejoice too ! Thou art all radiant with -the divine light that shines upon the world. Let the holy place resound with the joyful transports of the people, and let the acclamations of earth ascend to heaven,' ebc.