done to you, so you do also”.  At the end of the gospel, the Pope kisses the book, the Cardinal Deacon incenses Him as usual, and the choir begins to sing beautiful anthems allusive to the affecting ceremony, and recommending charity, the distinctive virtue of Christians, more precious than even faith and hope.  The Pope’s cope is then taken off, and a towel is fastened to his girdle by the assisting Card. deacons; and then, in imitation of his Divine Master, he washes and kisses the right foot[72] of 13 priests, called the apostles, dressed in cappe of white cloth, and wearing high cap, which in form resemble those on the bas-reliefs of Persepolis:  each of them receives from Him a towel, and a nosegay, besides a gold and silver medal presented by the Treasurer[73].  The Pope then returns to his throne, washes his hands[74] is vested once more in the cope, and recites the Our Father and the concluding prayers.

[Sidenote:  Dinner of the apostles.]

His Holiness afterwards waits on the 13 apostles at table, in a hall in the Vatican palace, (at present in the hall above the portico of S. Peter’s), giving them water to wash their hands, helping them to soup, one or more dishes, and pouring out wine and water for them once or twice.  The plates are handed to Him by prelates of mantelletta, and during the ceremony one of His chaplains reads a spiritual book.  He then gives them his blessing, washes His hands, and departs.  “Which is greater” says our Saviour, “he that sitteth at table or he that serveth?  Is not he that sitteth at table? but I am in the midst of you as he that serveth?”

[Sidenote:  Antiquity and meaning of the lavanda.]

From the most remote antiquity, it was customary among the Hebrews and other nations, that the feet of strangers and guests should be washed before they reclined at table, as they had often travelled on foot.  Thus the angels entertained by Abraham and Lot (Gen. XVIII, XIX), were supplied with water to wash their feet:  Abraham’s servants in the house of Laban, and the brothers of Joseph, when received by him, washed their feet. (Gen. XLIII, 24)[75].  In these cases however the guest washed his own feet; and hence the condescension of our Divine Lord was an act not of hospitality or charity alone, but also of profound humility; and accordingly he put on a towel or apron, like an ordinary slave, as Ferrari observes (De Re Vestiaria par. 1).  Most interpreters are of opinion, that Christ washed the feet of His disciples towards the close of the ordinary supper, and shortly before He instituted the holy Sacrament; in order to signify the purity with which it should be received.  His example was imitated by His disciples, and accordingly S. Paul (1 Tim.  V, 10) speaks of widows who “have washed the saints’ feet,” as Magdalen had washed those of our Lord.