Redeemer.  It is related of a servant of God of the name of Piccolomini, that he expired in church on good Friday when those words were sung.  The latter part is chanted, but without the usual ceremonies, by the deacon, after he has taken off his folded chasuble and put on the large band or stole.  A short sermon is then preached by a conventual Friar, who afterwards according to custom publishes the indulgence or remission of temporal punishment of thirty years granted by the Pope to those who have confessed and sincerely repented of their sins.  See p. 37.  As Morinus has shewn (De Penitentia cap. 4.) in most churches penitents were absolved and reconciled after the gospel.

[Sidenote:  Prayers for all mankind.]

Christ, says S. Paul, died for all men, and when suffering on the cross, He prayed even for his relentless persecutors:  on the anniversary then of his death it is fit that His church should pray for all men, that all may be saved by the application of His merits to their souls.  The Card.  Celebrant commences the beautiful, charitable, and ancient prayers of this day with the words, Let us pray, dearly beloved, for the holy church of God etc.  The deacon then kneeling says (according to the ancient custom mentioned by S. Cesarius of Arles in his 36th homily, and by S. Basil in his book on the Holy Ghost c.  XXVII) Let us bend our knees, and the subdeacon answers, Stand up, as it was customary to pray standing.  This form is repeated before each prayer, except that which is offered for the Jews[85]:  for their soldiers, bowing the knee before our Lord, mocked him saying in derision, Hail king of the Jews.  Prayers follow for the Pope, for all the clergy, and holy people of God (formerly for the Emperor also) and catechumens who are to receive baptism on the day following.  Having prayed for all members of the church, we then pray for heretics and schismatics, that God may deign to “deliver them from all errors, and bring them back to their holy mother the catholic and apostolic church”; and these petitions are followed by others for the conversion of Jews and Pagans[86].

[Sidenote:  Exposition of the cross:  ancient crucifixes and crosses.]

[Sidenote:  Adoration of the cross:  its antiquity.]

When these prayers are ended[87] the officiating Cardinal takes off his chasuble, and going to the epistle-side of the altar receives from the deacon the crucifix[88] covered with a black veil.  Then turning towards the people, and uncovering the upper part of the crucifix, he sings, Behold the wood of the cross, on which hung the salvation of the world; in singing which words he is joined by two tenor-voices from the choir.  The choir answers, Come, let us adore[89].  The Pope and all others kneel, except the Cardinal celebrant, who advances nearer to the middle of the altar, and uncovers the right arm of the crucifix, and repeats the same words in a higher tone, and again in a still higher tone before the middle of the altar, where he uncovers the whole cross.  The choir answers as before, and all except the celebrant kneel each time the words are repeated.  The Cardinal then places the crucifix on a rich cushion lying on the steps of the altar[90].