this double choir of children appeared, bearing palms in their hands and singing joyous canticles of benediction but I must describe this lovely scene in the melodious language of the south.  “Ciascuno di essi (says Cancellieri) recava in mano una di queste palme di color d’oro altissime e cadenti come tante vaghissime piume.  Sei zitelle sostenevano de’galanti panieri di freschissimi fiori pendenti dal loro collo, con nastri bianchi e gialli, relativi allo stendardo Pontificio.  Quindi tutti si schierarono in buon ordine sulle due ale delta strada, e mentre le ragazze versavano graziosamente a mani piene da’ loro canestrelli la verzura ed i fiori, quella selva ondeggiante di palme, tributate al trionfo del S. Padre dal candore e dall’ innocenza, sorprese con la novita di uno spettacolo, che non pote a meno d’intenerire, e di muovere tutti gli astanti”.

If we now look back for a moment to the triumphs of the pagan emperors, well may we bless God for the change which the religion of Christ has wrought in this city.  After they had let loose war, and famine, and pestilence, to prey upon hapless nations, they ascended the Capitol to offer incense with polluted hands to their profane gods; and meantime the groans of the dying and unpitied princes, whom they had reserved to decorate their triumph, ascended from the scala Gemonia to call down the vengeance of heaven upon their oppressors.  But while the pacific and holy vicar of Christ returns in triumph to his capital, the lips of babes and sucklings sing his praises, as they did those of his Divine Master, and he implores heaven to shower down benedictions on his enemies as well as his beloved children.

[Sidenote:  P. II Papal chapel on palm-sunday.]

[Sidenote:  Lights used at mass, etc.]

At about 9 o’clock on palm-sunday morning the Cardinals, Prelates and others assemble near the chapel of the Pieta at S. Peter’s, as at present the solemn service takes place in that basilica, and not as formerly in the Sixtine chapel.  The crucifix over the altar is veiled, in token of the mourning of the church over her divine spouse’s sufferings[28].  On the altar are six lighted candles, and other torches are brought in after the Sanctus of the Mass, and held till after the elevation, in honour of the B. Sacrament, by four acoliti ceroferarii[29].

[Sidenote:  sacred vestments]

As the pope is to bless and distribute the palms, and a solemn procession is to take place, the Cardinals put on their sacred vestments, viz. all of them the amice, the cardinal bishops the surplice and the cope, the priests the chasuble, and the deacons a chasuble shorter in front than that of the priests.  The auditors of the Rota, Cherici di Camera, Votanti, and Abbreviatori put on a cotta or supplice.  The bishops and mitred abbots wear the cope, and the Penitenzieri or confessors of St. Peter’s, the chasuble.  The copes of the cardinal bishops are ornamented with a formale, adorned with three large bosses or projections of pearls arranged in a perpendicular line, while the Pope’s are in a triangular order, evidently alluding, to the blessed Trinity.  As this is a day of mourning, the sacred vestments are purple.