Popes, as they now do the former to their tribunal, which according to
Gonzalez derives its name of _Segnatura_ from the _signature_ of the
sovereign affixed to its decree.]

[Footnote 70: They are formed of peacocks' feathers, the eyes of which
according to Macri and others signify the vigilance and circumspection
of the Pontiffs. They are mentioned in the apostolic constitutions, in
which it is prescribed, that two deacons should hold, them in order
to drive away flies, which might otherwise fall into the chalice.
Accordingly, at the ordination of the deacons in the Greek church,
among other instruments a Flabellum is given to them for their
ministry at the altar: this S. Anastasius is said to have used while
a deacon. Flabella are mentioned in the liturgies of SS. Basil,
Chrisostom, and other Greek and Syriac liturgies, Flabella are in
the Latin church a mark of distinction, and are carried for the Grand
Prior of the knights of Malta the bishop of Troja in Aquila, and the
archbishop of Messina, as well as for His Holiness.]

[Footnote 71: Since the time of Clement XIV, the custom of reading
from the _loggia_ on this day the bull in _Coena Domini_ has been
abolished. (On this bull see de Maistre du Pape lib. 2, c. 14).
According to the doctrine of S. Paul, the B. Sacrament is the bond
as it is the symbol of union or _communion_ between the faithful; "We
being many are one body, all who partake of one bread" 1 Cor. X, 17,
and hence this day of its institution was selected for the public
_excommunication_ of those, who reject the doctrines of the church, or
maliciously oppose her ordinances. After the bull had been read "many
candles are lighted, of which the Lord Pope himself holds some, and
each cardinal and prelate one lighted, and he extinguishes and throws
them on the ground, saying, we excommunicate all the aforesaid; and