The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-23
bolv Wleek IN the Catholic Church.

turns to the faldstool and the archdeacon,
as before, calls: 'oleum ad sanctum
chrisma' Toll for the holy chrism) and
"Oleum catechumenorum." Incense is
| blessed in the usual manner, and the
priests, deacOns and subdeacons proceed
to the sacristy to bring the oils. These
are carried in procession by two deacons,
in advance of whom walks subdeacon
with a vessel of balsam. The remainder
follow in order, while the cantors and
chorus sing the hymn, 20, Redemption"
The archdeacon receives the oil of
chrism and places it, covered with white
cloth. on the table before the Bishop.
The balsam is also placed beside it, and
the Bishop, again laying aside his mitre,
begins the prayers of blessing. These
completed. the mitre is resumed and a
little of the oil from the vase contain
ing the chrsm is mixed in paten with
some of the balsam.
Breathing on the Chrism.
Again the Bishop sits, and. still COW
cred breathes on the chrism thrice. in the
form OF cross. Then the twelve priests
approach. each breathing upon the sacred
oil. At the conclusion the exorcism is
pronounced By the Bishop standing.
The preface follows, for. as stated, this
blessing was formerly performed at a
special mass. Once more at the compile
ton of the preface baIsam and chrism are
mixed and the prayer is offered: Let this
mixture of oils be to all anointed there
with a means of grace and defence unto
salvation
The veil covering the vase, or ampulla,
is withdrawn. and the Bishop. bowling
thrice salutes the consecrated chrism with
the words thrice repeated:
Ave, sanctum chrisma!'' Hail, holy
chrism)
AT the third salutation he kisses the lip
of the vase The same salutation is made
by the twelve priests in similar manner,
and the lip of the ampulla kissed by each.
Oil of Catechumens.
The oil of catechumens is then brought
forward by the deacon who had carried it
from the sanctuary. Placed upon the ere
Gence table, it is breathed upon by Bishop
and priests as was done with the chrism.
Then the Bishop rises, exercises the oil,
and, having laid aside his mitre blessesat
in solemn manner. The salutation is per-
formed as before. save that the words
used are: ave sanctum oleum,' Hail
molly oil)
The ampullae are atSonce borne rever-
emily back to the sacristy, while the
Bishop. after washing his hands, returns
to the altar and proceeds with the mass.
"Symbolically the breathing of the
Bishop and the twelve priests who assist
him upon the holy oils signifies the in
tervention of the Holy Spirit, OF whose
breath ii is the symbol, be ii because of
its name or because of the manner in
which he was communicated to the apos-
ties the evening of the resurrection.
When the prayers of the liturgy have
raised the matter of oil to that degree of
power intended forsit by God the Church
sees in it bur the spirit of love and peace,
which is there present by his virtue This
is why the Bishop and the twelve priests
come in turn to saliite with a triple genu-
Election the holy oils; this is why they re-
spectfully kiss the vases which contain
them. table Durand)
Washing of the Feet.
Another ceremony of extreme interest
that belongs to Holy Thursday is the
washing of the feet, otherwise called the
mandatum, from the opening of the first
antiphon "Mandatum Hovum do vobis" ia
new commandment give l unto you.)
This is usually performed only by Bish-
ops and by superiors OF religious COM
munities. 1t is done In imitation of the
Saviour's washing of the feet of his
apostles.
In Rome, the Pope washes the feet of
thirteen priests OF as many different ma
tions. But Christ washed the feet of only
twelve and it is asked, Why thirteen?''
Able nurand, already quoted, in speaking
of this, says:
Some see here the intention of repre-
senting the perfected number of the Apos-
tolic College. the traitor Judas having
been replaced by st. Matthias. and God
having added st. Paul to the apostles
previously caosen. Others with Benedict
XIV find the reason for this number in
a fact Of the life of St Gregory the Great
This holy Pontif each day washed the
feet of twelve beggars. One day he re- |
marked thirteenth, whom no one had /
seen enter; ii was an angel"
According to the rubrics the prelate or |
superior, goes to the place appointed in |
violet cope, attended by deacon and |
subdeacOn in vestments of white. The |
gospel sung in the mass of the day is |
again chanted, Lights incense. and all the
usual ceremony being observed. After the