as the most convenient, because the altars were already stripped; the abbot Rupert and Belet discover mystical meanings in the sponges, towels, wine, water, and even aspergilli.  We prefer a middle course, and while we are willing to admit with Durandus and others an allusion in the wine and water to the blood and water which flowed from our Saviour on the cross, we maintain with the learned S. Isidore, S. Eligius, Benedict XIV and others, that we wash the altar, the symbol of Christ, from motives of respect to Him, who on this day washed the feet of His disciples.

Two great virtues are embodied in the ceremonies of this day, and impart to them their life and loveliness:  they are the essential and characteristic virtues of Christians, by the practice of which they imitate their divine Master and model, and come at last to be united to Him in heaven.  Christ was moved by charity to institute the Holy Sacrament, and by humility to wash His disciples feet.  Let us then learn of him because He was meek and humble of heart, and let us love one another, because Christ hath first loved us, and commands us to love one another.

[Footnote 57:  In Africa two were customary, one in the morning, and the other after supper.  S. August. ep. 54 ad Januarium.]

[Footnote 58:  For an account of this ancient ceremony the reader may see Fleury, Moeurs des Chretiens; Funz. della Settimana Santa. Martene, lib.  IV, 22. etc.]

[Footnote 59:  “Balsam is produced in the vineyards of Engaddi, and in preparing chrism it is mixed with oil and consecrated by the pontifical benediction, that all the faithful may be signed with this unction at confirmation”.  Ven.  Bede, in canlic. cap.  I. The Greeks bless the chrism on the same day as the Latins, having prepared it a few days previously.  See their Euchelogium, Ordo VIII entitled, On the composition of the great ointment in the Costantinop. church ap.  Martene, loc. cit.]

[Footnote 60:  Only one priest says mass in each on this day and the other priests communicate, as on it Christ alone said mass, and distributed the Holy communion to the apostles.  Although for many centuries both kinds were ordinarily received, yet the custom of communicating under the form of bread alone is very ancient.  Thus in time of persecution the faithful used to carry to their houses the holy communion under the form of bread alone, the hermits also preserved it in the deserts, the sick received it as their viaticum, the ministers of God kept it in the churches, for their spiritual support, and the bishops used to send it to their clergy in token of their union in charity.  These were all instances of communion under one kind, which are enumerated and proved by many Catholic divines, as for instance by Dr. Rock in his Hierurgia.  They demonstrate the constant belief of the church, that the whole sacrament is received under one kind only; and Christ himself in the scriptures attributes its admirable