Week preceding Easter. The commemoration of Christ's sufferings determines many of its functions: the reading of the Passion on Palm Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, respectively according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; the silence of the bells from Holy Thursday to Holy Saturday; the stripping of the altars on Thursday; the unveiling and adoration of the Cross on Good Friday; Tenebrae on the last three days. The termination of the catechumenate with Baptism on Saturday determined other functions: the blessing of the Holy Oils on Thursday; the prophecies and blessing of the baptismal font on Saturday. The function of Holy Saturday originally took place during the following night. In great part the ceremonies of Holy Week originated in Jerusalem.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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