[Footnote 56: "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother". John
XIX, 25.]




CHAP. IV.

ON THE CEREMONIES OF HOLY THURSDAY


_CONTENTS._

General character of the liturgy of holy thursday--its ancient
form--blessing of the oils at S. Peter's, communion under
one kind--origin and explanation of the blessing and
salutation of the oils--High mass in the Sixtine chapel,
_troccole_--procession of the B. Sacrament to the Pauline
chapel--antiquity of processions--reservation of the B.
Sacrament--Papal benediction from S. Peter's, _flabelli_--bull
in Coena Domini--washing of the feet--dinner of the
_apostles_--antiquity and meaning of this custom of
washing feet--customs of other churches: Leonardo da Vinci,
Michelangelo, Dante--Cardinals' public dinner etc.--Tenebræ:
Card. Penitentiary--recapitulation of the principal ceremonies
of the day--S. Peter's on holy thursday-evening: washing of
the high-altar--antiquity and meaning of the stripping and
washing of the altars--conclusion.