this : Kneeling is a token of the sincere Christian's humiliation and repentance; Standing denotes the confidence with which he ought to address his prayers to God, and the resolution with which he ought to execute His Divine will; and Sitting shows the steadiness requisite for persevering in His service."

According to a writer in Chambers's “Encyclopædia," “the Mass is now in general denominated, according to the solemnity of the accompanying ceremonial, a *Low Mass,' a 'Chanted Mass,' or a High Mass.' In the first, a single priest simply reads the service, attended by one or more acolytes or clerks. The second form differs only in this, that the service is chanted, instead of being read by the priest. In the High Mass, the service is chanted in part by the priest, in part by the deacon and sub-deacon, by whom, as well as by several ministers of inferior rank, the priest is assisted. In all these, however, the service, as regards the form of prayer, is the same.”

PALM SUNDAY CEREMONIES IN THE ROMAN

CATHOLIC CHURCH.

On the first Sunday after the Lætare the cross and the images of the saints are veiled, and continue so till the close of Easter-eve. On Palm Sunday palms are prepared at the Pope's chapel ; or if they cannot

be obtained, olive-branches are used, adorned with the leaves of the palm-tree, tied up neatly in the form of a cross. These palm or olive-branches are about five feet in length. Things being thus prepared, the Pope goes in procession to the chapel, when his Holiness sprinkles and incenses the branches. After they are consecrated, the chief cardinal-bishop presents two of the largest branches to the Pope ; he gives them to two persons of distinction, who, according to the Roman ceremonial, must stand on each side of the Pope, with the branches in their hands. The cardinalbishop presents the Pope with a third branch, less than the former two in size : this the Pope gives to a chamberlain, and presents the rest to the cardinals, prelates, ambassadors, and noblemen who assist at the ceremony.

The branches which the cardinalbishop offers to his Holiness are beautifully adorned with flowers, and must be kissed by those who receive them. When the chief cardinal-bishop receives he has the honour to kiss the hand and knee of the Pope; the rest of the cardinals also kiss his knee, but the clergy of an inferior order to these only kiss his foot. The ceremony concludes with distributing the branches among the people ; and during the service of the Passion all the congregation hold their branches in their hands.

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On Palm Sundays the altars are decorated with palm or olive-branches; and the branches designed to be distributed are laid upon a table near the altar, and remain there covered with a white cloth till the time of blessing them.

The incident which this ceremony commemorates tells the people that by the blessing of the branches they are taught that all their thoughts, desires, and faculties ought to be offered to God, formed according to His spirit, and actuated by the impulse of His grace.*

One remarkable custom practised on Palm Sunday, and which may still be observed in some Roman Catholic countries, was the setting a prisoner at liberty ; upon which occasion the bishop and clergy go in procession. The ceremony of this delivery is considered to be typical of spiritual freedom. It is borrowed from the Jews, who used anciently to set a prisoner at liberty on the day of the Passover, in commemoration of their deliverance from Egyptian bondage.t

After the palms are distributed, the Procession of the palm-branches is performed. It begins with the deacon's presenting the officiating priest with one of

* The "Ritual" of Alet.
of Picart's “Ceremonies and Religious Customs."

D

these branches, which he kisses, as also the priest's hand. This being done, the sub-deacon takes the cross, and

goes and stands between the two incensebearers, at the entrance of the sanctuary or chancel. Then the procession starts. Immediately after the deacon, having knelt down and turned himself towards the people, has repeated to them, Procedamus in pace, “Let us go in peace,” this procession is performed round the church; and when it is ended, Mass is said. During the singing of the Passion, the members of the congregation hold their branches in their hands, not excepting the officiating priest and the ministers of the altar. None are excepted but the deacons, who repeat the service of the Passion, and the acolytes, their attendants. After Mass is ended, every member of the congregation carries home his branch which has been blessed ; and the Rituals say that a branch thus blessed is a preservation from several diseases, and an instrument of numberless blessings.*

The Sacristan reserves some of these branches, in order to burn them to ashes for the next AshWednesday.

It is said the Pope Agapetus, who lived about the

* Picart.

middle of the sixth century, first instituted the processions which are performed during Passion week.

THE PROCESSION OF THE HOST TO THE

SEPULCHRE.

The ceremony of the Procession of the Host to the Sepulchre, in the Roman Catholic Church, is made after a solemn Mass. The officiating priest and his assistant kneel many times, first on one side of the altar, then in the middle, and afterwards on the second step; after that they come down and the priest puts off the maniple* and puts on the chasuble, and continues in prayer whilst the sacristan or some other person goes and lights the tapers, lays the corporal or blessed tablecloth on the altar, &c., while another gives out the tapers which are to be used in the procession. The incense-bearers get ready their thuribles, &c., and the cross-bearers clothe themselves in white, in order to walk with the Processional Cross. The ministers range themselves about the altar, draw near to it, and kneel down and pray. Strict care must be taken that they do not turn their backs upon the Host. This the priest first incenses thrice, it being covered with a veil ; at the same time an

* " A kind of little stole.”—Picart.