Pictoribus atque poetis
  Quidlibet audendi semper fuit aequa potestas.
]

[Footnote 77:  The mosaics with which it was adorned by Pope Leo III are preserved in the great niche adjoining the scala santa.]

[Footnote 78:  The Portuguese, Spanish and some other churches are generally distinguished on this day by the brilliancy of the illumination of their sepulchres.]

[Footnote 79:  In the eighth century Pope Hadrian I, according to Anastasius, suspended under the principal or triumphal arch, as it was called, a silver cross with 1365 or 1380 small lamps, which where lighted at Easter and other great festivals.  This was perhaps the origin of the cross which used to be suspended in S. Peter’s at this season.]

[Footnote 80:  We have already mentioned an ancient Christian fresco in which an aspergillum is represented.]

[Footnote 81:  Formerly, as Card.  Borgia has proved (De Cruce Vaticana) this ceremony was performed in S. Peter’s on good Friday.  In other churches there were two distinct observances; 1. that of stripping the altars on holy Thursday, when Christ’s passion began; and 2. that of washing them with wine and on good Friday, when blood and water flowed from His side, as the Abbot Rupert observes.  For the ancient ceremonies of this day at Rome see besides the Apamean Pontifical above-cited, the Pontificals of Egebert archbishop of York and of Tirpin archbishop of Rheims ap.  Martene, loc. cit.  In some places the fast of Lent was not observed on this day, as appears from S. Augustine, Ep. 54 and Januarium.  Of old this was the day for shaving in preparation for Easter-Sunday:  it was therefore called shere-Thursday.]

CHAP.  V.

ON THE CEREMONIES OF GOOD-FRIDAY

CONTENTS.

Ancient ceremonies at Rome—­Service in the Sixtine chapel—­Passio—­Sermon and indulgence—­Prayers for all mankind—­exposition of the cross; ancient crucifixes and crosses—­adoration of the cross; its antiquity—­Palestrina’s improperii, Trisagion—­chant of the hymn Pange lingua gloriosi lauream etc,—­Procession of the B. Sacrament—­Mass of the Presanctified, Vespers—­Tenebrae—­Veneration of the principal relics at S Peter’s—­Grounds of belief in the genuineness of relics—­1.  Relic of the cross—­2. of the lance—­3. Volto Santo—­Reflections—­Recapitulation.

“The principal object of the church in the office of this day is, that Jesus Christ crucified may be placed before our eyes, that touched with contrition at the sight, our souls may be so disposed, as to obtain the fruit of redemption” Bened.  XIV, De Festis D.N.J.C. lib. 1. c. 7.

[Sidenote:  Ancient ceremonies.]