Easter in London

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 20, 24 May 1923, Page 17

Easter in London

A million people are supposed to have left London to spend the Easter holidays either on the Continent or at the seaside and other resorts. That left a bare six millions or so behind, of whom a very generous proportion found their way to the churches, to judge by the crowded congregations seen during Holy Week and Easter. To judge by the closed doors, Good Friday is not a, popular holy day amongst the Nonconformists; but both the Catholic and Anglican churches were crowded. During Holy Week London sees a variety of special observances. There is, for example, the distribution of the Royal Maundy in Westminster Abbey on Maundy Thursday, when the prelates and high officers of the Court who distribute the purses gird themselves with towels —a reminder of the old Catholic days when the Sovereign and the bishops washed the feet of certain poor men in imitation of Christ’s action on the night of the Last Supper. This ceremony is now performed in Westminster Cathedral, where the Cardinal Archbishop, assisted by the members of the Metropolitan Chapter, goes through the ceremony of the Mandatum according to the Ritual. Of Pontifical ceremonies during the Holy Week and Easter there is no lack. Six metropolitan archbishoprics in Great Britain and 17 episcopal sees, are great ecclesiastical centres where the solemn ceremonies beginning on Palm Sunday reach their climax in the Pontifical Mass of Easter Day. Menevia is still without a. Bishop, and the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle N is still seriously ill; so in both these dioceses there were no pontifical ceremonies.

Westminster, as usual, was crowded to its doors at all the functions, and both the long ceremonies, 'the Mass and Blessing of the Oils on Maundy Thursday, and the special functions of Holy Saturday, drew large numbers of men, though both these days are supposed to be business days.

The coming of the wireless brought to many a home the great message of Good Friday, where otherwise the day might have passed without any mention of the Story of the Redemption. During the evening the broadcasting station sent out by wireless the Gospel narrative of the Passion, interspersed with hymns. It was a solemn and inspiring moment to “listen in” and hear coming from the void such sonorous phrases as "Pilate therefore took Jesus,

and when he had scourged Him. . .” ,The effect was very striking, and must have brought a new meaning of the sacred story to many. — Catholic News Service. 1