bishops and the Cardinal deacons, priests and bishops all wearing
their mitres.[36] The Pope is preceded by many officers of his guards
(who go to the throne towards the end of the distribution of palms),
the _Maestro del S. Ospizio_, the _Conservatori_, Senator and Governor
of Rome. His Holiness is carried on his _Sedia gestatoria_[37] under
a canopy supported by 8 _Referendarii_ (prelates of the tribunal of
_Segnatura_) between the _flabelli_ carried by two of His _Camerieri_.
He is followed by the dean of the Rota (whose duty it is to bear His
mitre) between two _camerieri segreti_ (who as well as two Auditors of
the Rota bear His train when occasion requires), by the _Uditore della
Camera_, the Treasurer, _Maggiordomo_, Protonotaries and Generals of
religious orders.

During the procession the choir sings the anthem, _Cum appropinquaret
etc._ When the procession is in the portico, two soprano singers
reenter the basilica, and shut the door: then turning towards
the door, they sing the first verse of the hymn _Gloria, laus et
honor_[38] and the other verses alternately with the choir, which
remains without. The subdeacon knocks at the gate with the cross, and
it is immediately opened; the procession returns into the church, and
the choir sings the concluding anthems.

[Sidenote: _its antiquity._]

The solemn commemoration, which we have described, of Christ's
triumphant entry into Jerusalem, could never have taken place
during times of persecution: nor did it originate immediately after
Constantine had ensured peace to the church. Martene (De ant. Eccl.
Rit. lib. IV, c. 20) could find no mention of it before the 8th or 9th
century, when Amalarius says "In memory of this we are accustomed to