Show ito at 1 L pul ripi ar 11 w bior many centuries past it has been ats I 1 the custom 0 christians of all dep nominations vvhs could accomplish the journey to visit spots in the holy land made sacred by connection with the life of christ they went at all seasons but such as could choose their time for this pilgrimage made it at easter that they might participate in or witness the wonderful series of services which take place nt the actual scenes of the death and resurrection of the savior io one who has attended the ser of holy week and easter at the church of the holy sepulcher in jerusalem has ever failed to be deeply impressed by the services and et but comparatively few people know tint the unique preparatory to and cul in easter which take place in jerusalem are reproduced as faithfully as circumstances will permit in one spot jn our own land at the franciscan monastery on the outskirts of wash ington the franciscan order of friars has had charge of the holy places of palestine since early in the thirteenth century st francis of the founder of the order was granted their custody by the edans in washington a body of devout monks has created an establishment which 1 a memorial of all the holy shrines of palestine and reproduces the sen ices taking place there the chuich of the holy sepulcher named after the famous basilica in jerusalem and its attached monastery of franciscan friars are situated to the northeast of washington three miles from the united states treasury regarded as the center of he city the holy brothers were wise in their selection of their site when some 15 years ago they chose the glorious wooded eminence now 1 now n as mount st sepulcher overlooking miles upon miles of verdant maryland on one side and on the other the capital of the united states it Is a gracious spot and a fitting place for the reproduction of the most sacred places of earth in the great church built upon byzantine lines restrained by the rule of simplicity of the order in the form of the fivefold five fold cross which was the coat of arms of the latin kingdom of jerusalem are assembled faithful reproductions of the holy shrines of palestine each separate and distinct but all combined in a beautiful and harmonious whole the cliplef feature of the church as of the whole establishment Is the holy sepulcher which Is an exact reproduction of the original tomb preserved in jerusalem as the holy of holica and sheltered by the magnificent church of holy sepulcher the onecca of all christians it was to preserve the tomb of christ that many of the crusaders of old from various parts of the world laid down their lives the holy sepulcher in alie monastery church here as in jerusalem consists of two apartments 1 he outer apartment 1 called the chapel of the angel because the angel was found seated here on the morning of the first laster and the inner chamber which Is the tomb the chapel of the angel Is entered by a low arched doorway sur bunted by a large relief panel representing christ rising from alie tomb A of stone in the center of the chamber contains a fragment of stone from jerusalem through an archway so low that one must stoop far to enter it Is the sepulcher of christ it Is a of the bare rock hewn cell the tomb of joseph of in which christ was laid after ills crucifixion in the original sepulcher a slab of marble has been laid over the tomb to cover it from desecrating dese crating hands here that slab Is reproduced and on its lies a figure of the christ who lifter the anointing of his body lay here in death from good friday until his easter morn above the tomb Is a facsimile of the silver re ilef panel of raphael 8 resurrection which cardinal antonella Anto nelll donated to the holy sepulcher in jerusalem the soft lamps which dimly light the sacred chamber are of gold stiver and precious here the are of simple materials but produce the same effect upon tho hallowed spot it Is at the holy sepulcher that the holy cu charest Is to the throngs who come to this most sacred shrine easter sunday morning above the holy sepulcher and reached by two flights of marble steps Is the altar of chabor thabor representing the commonly known mount tabor where alie transfiguration of christ took place in the presence of moses and ellas to the left of the holy sepulcher and the altar of chabor thabor Is the chapel of st I 1 rancis the sweet saint of Is here represented in the figure above the altar as receiving the em brace of our lord according to the conception of A relief panel on either side of tho figure represents on the right st I 1 rands bless ing st louis king of france and st elizabeth queen of hungary and on the left his nation the altar of calvary act high above the main entrance to alie Is a replica of the greek altar at jerusalem which covers the place of the skull where the savior of the world gave up ills life for mankind behind the altar Is an im group of alie crucifixion consisting of the alcure of the crucified with the virgin mary and at jvon n either sid beyond these figures W 32 are on either side two monuments one of mary magdalene the other known as the pleta and representing the lifeless body of christ in the arms of his mother after atie descent from the cross the distance from this representation of mount calvary to the holy sepulcher across the length of the great church Is about the same as are the originals from each other in jerusalem and the height is the same as mount calvary beneath the church of the holy sepulcher Is a series of underground chambers which are true copies of several of the sacred spots in palestine the easter services at mount st sepulcher actually commence a week before for the rites of holy week are but a preparation for the glorious celebration of faster they are carried out with full detail and liturgical 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 1223 when the tenor and piety of st francis won this right for himself and his followers the first service of holy week takes place palm sunday with the nine mass when the celebrant blesses and distributes the palms atthe at the central altar after tills the traditional groces slon takes place in representation of our lord s triumphal entry into jerusalem when the waved palm branches before him and shout ed IIo sannah to the highest 1 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 high mass Is celebrated and the passion sung according to the gospel of st matthew late on wednesday afternoon the matins ot holy thursdays Thurs das commonly called are sung n the church which Is hut dimly lighted holy thursday or maundy thursday Is a day of festival because it Is the anniversary of the in of the lord s supper good I 1 at the church of the holy cher Is observed with rites of unique solemnity at the morning service of this day no one save the celebrant receives the holy communion ho mass Is celebrated in any catholic church on ahta day in black vestments accompanied by his ministers alie celebrant goes to the altar which Is bare but for the candlesticks and crucifix covered with a purple cloth the and min aisters prostrate themselves before the altar dur ing the singing of part of the scriptures then while kneeling a plain white linen cloth Is spread upon the bare altar which Is now in darkness the passion according to st bolms gospel Is then sung by three deacons as on palm sunday after which the crucifix on the main altar Is unveiled and brought down to the altar steps where clergy and people venerate it during this ceremony all the crucifixes cruci fixes in the church have been unveiled after the veneration of the crucifix the friars form in procession and proceed to alie holy sepulcher when the sacrament iq brought back n solemn state to the central altar the then consumes the sacred species and the clergy leave the altar in silence alie good friday evening service nt the church of the sepulcher Is unique in this country and represents the burial of our 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 and Is now reclining on a bier in front of the representations of mount calvary the figure Is incensed prayers ace said and following the first of a series of sermons in various languages Is preached from the spot then the solemn procession Is formed the dead christ on the ler partly covered by a pall Is borne by the preceding this nt the head of the cortege jire carried representation of the crown of thorns of the three nails which pierced hands of the bacat which wounded the side and of th sponge filled with binegar which they gave him to drink i o 0 the procession moves slowly round the church stopping at intervals before the various altars the Is rested at each until a sermon in a different language la preached the figure 1 finally rested upon the stone of unction which 1 in front of the holy sepulcher and the last sermon is then preached after alie sermon the figure 1 ngien incensed prayers are recited and the de id christ Is laid to rest for another year in the holy sepulcher on saturday or ister eve quite a number of old liturgical rites are observed at the church of the holy sepulcher chief among them Is the blessing of the paschal candle at the nine morning service on the evening of holy saturday the church Is beautifully decorated with fister flowers and greens and there Is held the service of resurrection the friars go to the part of the church in front of the sepulcher and then cliant the solemn of the resurrection at the conclusion of this nalice the celebrant and lira ministers proceed to the holy sepulcher and the blessed sacrament Is brought out in triumph in gorgeous gorge oua procession amid and the polling of he organ it Is carried round through the various chapels and finally to the high altar where the solemn benediction Is bestowed and the first service of taster s over ahe easter sunday masses following the cus torn of those in jerusalem are said in the hoty sepulcher every half hour from SO in the morn ing at nine a solemn high mass Is said at the central altar when the gorgeous bister music Is beautifully rendered by the monastery choir before a congregation which crowds the great edifice A custom of several sears standing at the first sen ice of faster sunday Is the attendance in a body of a large number of boward university students who walk out to the monas cry achurch to partake of the birly faster sacrament at the 3 30 service in the afternoon the chanting of the office of compline Is followed by the solemn benediction of the blessed sacrament if faster dav be bright and sunny such of the grounds of tho church and monastery as may be explored by the public are filled with sightseers after this song service they wander through the well kept grounds and generally find their way to the grotto of I 1 bourdes lying in a little valley to the south of the monastery this Is a facsimile reproduction of lie famous shrine of alie pyre nees created by alie franciscan friars here for he benefit of those pilgrims who cannot see the famous grotto of miraculous mir healing in its native home in the south of france it is only upon occasions that one may penetrate the seclusion of the beautiful cloisters and courtyard of the monastery the great severely plain rectangular building behind the church the courtyard court vard with its vine covered cistern in he center Is a spot of rich beauty which lends additional charm to the graceful ambulatory where the friars take exercise and recreation in inclement weather nor mav one except by atal privilege penetrate the private grounds of the monastery and enjoy lie exquisitely deft garden and grounds velch the have created behind their home j t |