Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

in their milk she prayed, and the butter
multiplied; that the butter she gave away
66 as if it
she divided into twelve parts,
were for the twelve apostles; and one
part she made bigger than any of the
rest, which stood for Christ's portion;
though it is strange," says Patrick, "that
she forget to make another inequality by
ordering one portion more of the butter
to be made bigger than the remaining
ones in honour of St. Peter, the prince of
the apostles."

[ocr errors]

BURIAL OF ALLELUIA.

In Mr. Fosbroke's "British Monarch-
ism," the observation of this catholic ce-
remony is noticed as being mentioned in
Ernulphus's Annals of Rochester Cathe-
dral," and by Selden. From thence it ap-
pears to have taken place just before the
Austin says, "that it
octaves of Easter
used to be sung in all churches from
Easter to Pentecost, but Damasus ordered
it to be performed at certain times,
whence it was chanted on Sundays from
the octaves of Epiphany to Septuagesima,
and on the Sundays from the octaves of
Pentecost and Advent. One mode of
burying the Alleluia was this: in the
sabbath of the Septuagesima at Nones,
the choristers assembled in the great ves-
tiary, and there arranged the ceremony.
Having finished the last Benedicamus,'
they advanced with crosses, torches, holy
waters, and incense, carrying a turf (Gle-
bam) in the manner of a coffin, passed
through the choir and went howling to
the cloister, as far as the place of inter-
ment; and then having sprinkled the wa-
ter, and censed the place, returned by the
same road. According to a story (whe-
ther true or false) in one of the churches
of Paris, a choir boy used to whip a top,
marked with Alleluia, written in golden
letters, from one end of the choir to the
other. In other places Alleluia was bu-
ried by a serious service on Septuagesima
Sunday."

FLORAL DIRECTORY.
Lesser Water Moss. Fontinalis minor.
Dedicated to St. Ignatius.
Bay. Laurus nobilis.
Dedicated to St. Bridget.

February 2.

Holiday at the Public Offices, except Excise, Stamps,
and Customs.

The Purification. St. Laurence,
bishop of Canterbury, A. D. 619

CANDLEMAS DAY.

Arch

This being the festival which catholics

call the Purification of the virgin, they
observe it with great pomp. It stands as
a holiday in the calendar of the church
of England. Naogeorgus thus introduces
the day; or rather Barnaby Googe, in
his translation of that author's, " Popish
Kingdom :"

"Then comes the Day wherein the Virgin
offred Christ unto

commaunded hir to do.
Then numbers great of Tapers large,
both men and women beare
To Church, being halowed there with pomp
and dreadful words to heare.
This done, eche man his Candell lightes
where chiefest seemeth hee,
Whose Taper greatest may be seene
and fortunate to bee;

The Father chiefe, as Moyses law

Whose Candell burneth cleare and bright,
a wondrous force and might
Doth in these Candels lie, which if
at any time they light,
They sure beleve that neyther storme
or tempest dare abide,
thunder in the skies be heard,

Nor

Nor

nor any Devil's spide,
fearefull sprites that walke by night,

nor hurts of frost or haile."

According to "The Posey of Prayers, or the Key of Heaven," it is called Candlemas, because before mass is said this day, the church blesses her candles for the whole year, and makes a procession with hallowed or blessed candles in the hands of the faithful."

From catholic service-books, quoted in “Pagano Papismus," some particulars are collected concerning the blessing of the candles. Being at the altar, the priest says over them several prayers; one of which commences thus: "O Lord Jesu Christ, who enlightenest every one that cometh into the world, pour out thy benediction upon these Candles, and sanctifie them with the light of thy grace," &c.

Another begins: "Holy Lord, Father Almighty, Everlasting God, who hast created all things of nothing, and by the labour of bees caused this liquor to come to the perfection of a wax candle; we humbly beseech thee, that by the invocation of thy most holy name, and by the intercession of the blessed virgin, ever a virgin, whose festivals are this day devoutly celebrated, and by the prayers of all thy saints, thou wouldst vouchsafe to bless and sanctifie these candles," &c. Then the priest sprinkles the candles thrice with holy water, saying "Sprinkle me with," &c. and perfumes them thrice with incense. One of the

consecratory prayers begins: "O Lord Jesu Christ, bless this creature of wax tc us thy suppliants; and infuse into it, by the virtue of the holy cross, thy heavenly Denediction; that in whatsoever places it shall be lighted, or put, the devil may depart, and tremble, and fly away, with all his ministers, from those habitations, and not presume any more to disturb them," &c. There is likewise this benediction: "I bless thee, O wax, in the name of the holy trinity, that thou may'st be in every place the ejection of Satan, and subversion of all his companions,' &c. During the saying of these prayers, various bowings and crossings are interjected; and when the ceremonies of consecration are over, the chiefest priest goes to the altar, and he that officiates receives a candle from him; afterwards, that priest, standing before the altar towards the people, distributes the candles, first to the priest from whom he received a candle, then to others in order, all kneeling (except bishops) and kissing the candle, and also kissing the hand of the priest who delivers it. When he begins to distribute the candles, they sing, "A light to lighten the gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." After the candles are distributed, a solemn procession is made; in which one carries a censer, another a crucifix, and the rest burning candles in their hands.

The practice is treated of by Butler in his notice of the festival under this head, "On blessing of Candles and the Procession." It is to be gathered from him that "St. Bernard says the procession was first made by St. Joseph, Simeon, and Anne, as an example to be followed by all the earth, walking two and two, holding in their hands candles, lighted from fire, first blessed by the priests, and singing." The candle-bearing has reference to Simeon's declaration in the temple when he took Jesus in his arms, and affirmed that he was a light to lighten the gentiles, and the glory of Israel. This was deemed Bufficient ground by the Romish church, whereon to adopt the torch-bearing of the pagans in honour of their own deities, as a ceremony in honour of the presentation of Jesus in the temple. The pagans used lights in their worship, and Constantine, and other emperors,endowed churches with land and various possessions, for the maintenance of lights in catholic churches, and frequently presented the ecclesiastics with coffers full of candles and tapers.

Mr. Fosbroke shows, from catholic autho rities, that light-bearing on Candlemas day is an old Pagan ceremony; and from Du Cange, that it was substituted by pope Gelasius for the candles, which in February the Roman people used to carry in the Lupercalia.

Pope Innocent, in a sermon on this fes tival, quoted in "Pagano Papismus," inquires, "Why do we (the catholics) in this feast carry candles?" and then he explains the matter by way of answer. "Because," says he, "the gentiles dedicated the month of February to the infernal gods, and as, at the beginning of it, Pluto stole Proserpine, and her mother, Ceres, sought her in the night with lighted candles, so they, at the beginning of this month, walked about the city with lighted candles; because the holy fathers could not utterly extirpate this custom, they ordained that Christians should carry about candles in honour of the blessed virgin Mary: and thus," says the pope, "what was done before to the honour of Ceres is now done to the honour of the Virgin."

Polydore Vergil, observing on the pagan processions and the custom of publicly carrying about images of the gods with relics, says, "Our priests do the same thing. We observe all these ceremonies, but I know not whether the custom is as good as it is showy; I fear, I fear, I say, that in these things, we rather please the gods of the heathen than Jesus Christ, for they were desirous that their worshippers should be magnificent in their processions, as Sallust says; but Christ hates nothing more than this, telling us, When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door pray to thy Father. What will then become of us, if we act contrary to his commandment? Surely, whatever may become of us, we do act contrary to it."

Brand shows, from "Dunstan's Concord of Monastic Rules," that the monks went in surplices to the church for candles, which were to be consecrated, sprinkled with holy water, and censed by the abbot. Every monk took a candle from the sacrist, and lighted it. A procession was made, thirds and mass were celebrated, and the candles, after the offering, were offered to the priest. The monks' candles signified the use of those in the parable of the wise virgins.

In catholic countries the people joined the priests in their public processions to

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

The "Golden Legend" relates, that a lady who had given her mantle to a poor man for the love of our lady, would not go to church on Candlemas-day, but went into her own private chapel, and kneeling before the altar, fell asleep, and had a miraculous vision, wherein she saw herself at church. Into this visionary church she imagined that a troop of virgins came, with a noble virgin at their head, crowned ryght precyously," and seated themselves in order; then a troop of young men, who seated themselves in like order; then one, with a proper number of candles, gave to each a candle, and to the lady herself he gave a candle of wax; then came St. Laurence as a deacon, and St. Vincent as a sub-deacon, and Jesus Christ as the priest, and two angels bearing candles; then the two angels began the Introit of the mass, and the virgins sung the mass; then the virgins went and each offered the candle to the priest, and the priest waited for the lady to offer her candle; then "the glorious quene of virgyns" sent to her to say that she was not courteous to make the priest tarry so long for her, and the lady answered that the priest might go on with the mass, for she should keep her candle herself, and not offer it; and the virgin sent a second time, and the lady said she would not offer the candle; then "the quene of virgyns" said to the messenger, "Pray her to offer the candle, and if she will not, take it from her by force;" still she would not offer the candle, and therefore the messenger seized it; but the lady held so fast and long, and the messenger drew and pulled so hard, that the candle broke, and the lady kept half. Then the lady awoke, and found the piece of candle in

her hand; whereat she marvelled, and returned thanks to the glorious virgin, who had not suffered her to be without a mass on Candlemas-day, and all her life kept the piece of candle for a relic; and all they that were touched therewith were healed of their maladies and sicknesses.

Poetry is the history of ancient times. We know little of the times sung by Homer but from his verses. To Herrick we must confess our obligation for acquaintance with some of the manners pertaining to this "great day in the calendar." Perhaps, had he not written, we should be ignorant that our forefathers fared more daintily during the Christmas holidays than at other seasons; be unaware of the rule for setting out the due quantum of time, and orderly succession, to Christmas ever-greens; and live, as most of us have lived, but ought not to live longer, without being informed, that the Christmas-log may be burnt until this day, and must be quenched this night till Christmas comes again.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Ceremonies for Candlemasse Eve.
Down with the Rosemary and Bayes,
Down with the Misleto;
Instead of Holly, now up-raise
The greener Box (for show.)
The Holly hitherto did sway;
Let Box now domineere,
Untill the dancing Easter-day,

On Easter's Eve appeare.

Then youthful Box, which now hath grace,
Your houses to renew,
Grown old, surrender must his place
Unto the crisped Yew.

When Yew is out, then Birch comes in,
And many Flowers beside,

Both of a fresh and fragrant kinne,

To honour Whitsontide.

Green Bushes then, and sweetest Bents,
With cooler Oken boughs,
Come in for comely ornaments
To re-adorn the house.

Thus times do shift; each thing his turne do's

hold:

[blocks in formation]

Brand cites a curious anecdote concerning John Cosin, bishop of Durham, on this day, from a rare tract, entitled "The Vanitie and Downefall of superstitious Popish Ceremonies, preached in the Cathedral Church of Durham, by one Peter Smart, a prebend there, July 27, 1628," Edinborough, 4to. 1628. The story is, that "on Candlemass-day last past, Mr. Cozens, in renuing that popish ceremonie of burning Candles to the honour of our lady, busied himself from two of the clocke in the afternoon till foure, in climbing long ladders to stick up wax candles in the said Cathedral Church: the number of all the Candles burnt that evening was two hundred and twenty, besides sixteen torches; sixty of those burning tapers and torches standing upon, and near, the high Altar, (as he calls it,) where no man came nigh."

A contributor to the Gentleman's Ma

gazine informs Mr. Urban, in 1790, that having visited Harrowgate for his health a few years before, he resided for some time at that pleasant market-town Rippon, where, on the Sunday before Candlemas-day, he observed that the collegiate church, a fine ancient building. was one continued blaze of light all the afternoon from an immense number of candles.

England this day is called the "Wives' Feast Day;" and he quotes a singular old custom from Martin's book on the Western Islands, to this effect" The mistress and servants of each family dress a sheaf of oats in women's apparel, put it in a large basket, and lay a wooden club by it, and this they call Brüd's Bed; and the mistress and servants cry three times, Brüd is come, Brüd is welcome!' This they do just before going to bed. In the morning they look among the ashes, and if they see the impression of Brüd's club there, they reckon it a presage of a good crop, and prosperous year; if not, they take it as an ill omen."

[ocr errors]

A Dorsetshire gentleman communicates a custom which he witnessed at Lyme Regis in his juvenile days; to what extent it prevailed he is unable to say, his knowledge being limited to the

domestic circle wherein he was included. The wood-ashes of the family being sold throughout the year as they were made, the person who purchased them annually sent a present on Candlemas-day of a large candle. When night came, this candle was lighted, and, assisted by its illumination, the inmates regaled themselves with cheering draughts of ale, and sippings of punch, or some other animating beverage, until the candle had burnt out. The coming of the Candlemas candle was looked forward to by the young ones as an event of some consequence; for, of usage, they had a sort of right to sit up that night, and partake of the refreshment, till all retired to rest, the signal for which was the self-extinction of the Candlemas candle.

Bishop Hall, in a Sermon on Candlemas-day, remarks, that "it hath been an been wont to be set on this day, that if old (I say not how true) note, that hath it be clear and sun-shiny, it portends a hard weather to come; if cloudy and louring, a mild and gentle season ensu ing." This agrees with cne of Ray s proverbs:

"The hind had as lief see
his wife on the bier,
As that Candlemas-day

should be pleasant and clear."

So also Browne, in his "Vulgar Errors," affirms, that "there is a general

Brand observes, that in the north of tradition in most parts of Europe, that

inferreth the coldness of succeeding winter from the shining of the sun on Candlemas-day, according to the proverbial distich:

'Si Sol splendescat Mariâ purificante, Major erit glacies post festum quam fuit ante.""

The "Country Almanac" for 1676, in the month of February, versifies to the same effect

"Foul weather is no news;

hail, rain, and snow, Are now expected, and

esteem'd no woe;

Nay, 'tis an omen bad,

The yeomen say,

Jf Phoebus shows his face
the second day."

Country Almanac, (Feb.) 1676.

Other almanacs prophesy to the like pur port:

"If Candlemas-day be fair and bright,

Winter will have another flight,

But if Candlemas-day be clouds and rain, Winter is gone, and will not come again." The next old saw is nearer the truth than either of the preceding.

"When Candlemas-day is come and gone, The snow lies on a hot stone."

[blocks in formation]

This saint has the honour of a place in the church of England calendar, on what account it is difficult to say. All the facts that Butler has collected of him are, that he was bishop of Sebaste in Armenia, receiver of the relics of St. Eustratius, and executor of his last will; that he is venerated for the cure of sore throats; principal patron of Ragusa, titular patron of the wool-combers; and that he was tormented with iron combs, and martyred under Licinius, in 316.

Ribadeneira is more diffuse. He relates, that St. Blase lived in a cave, whither wild beasts came daily to visit him, and be cured by him; "and if it hap

pened that they came while he was at prayer, they did not interrupt him, but waited till he had ended, and never departed without his benediction. He was discovered in his retirement, imprisoned, and cured a youth who had a fish-bone stuck in his throat by praying." Ribadeneira further says that Ætius, an ancient Greek physician, gave the following

Receipt for a stoppage in the throat :

"Hold the diseased party by the throat, and pronounce these words:BLASE, the martyr and servant of Jesus Christ, commands thee to pass up or down!"

The same Jesuit relates, that St. Blase was scourged, and seven holy women anointed themselves with his blood; whereupon their flesh was combed with iron combs, their wounds ran nothing but milk, their flesh was whiter than snow, angels came visibly and healed their wounds as fast as they were made; and they were put into the fire, which consume them; wherefore would not they were ordered to be beheaded, and beheaded accordingly. Then St. Blase was ordered to be drowned in the lake; but he walked on the water, sat down on it in the middle, and invited the infidels to a sitting; whereupon threescore and eight, who tried the experiment, were drowned, and St. Blase walked back to be beheaded.

The "Golden Legend" says, that a wolf having run away with a woman's swine, she prayed St. Blase that she might have her swire again, and St. Blase promised her, with a smile, she should, and the wolf brought the swine back; then she slew it, and offered the head and the feet, with some bread and a candle, to St. Blase. "And he thanked God, and ete thereof; and he sayd to her, that every yere she sholde offre in his chirche a candell. And she dyd all her lyf, and she had moche grete prosperyte. And knowe thou that to the, and to all them that so shal do, shal well happen to them."

It is observed in a note on Brand, that the candles offered to St. Blase were said to be good for the tooth-ache, and for diseased cattle.

"Then followeth good sir Blase, who doth a wazen Candell give, And holy water to his men, whereby they safely live

« ZurückWeiter »