The Irish standard., 1907-12-21

Antiquities of the Anglo Saxon
Church. speaks as follows of the Mas,
of Judgment:
Three nights before the day ap-
pointed for the trial the accused was
led to the priest; on the three follow
ing mornings he assisted md made his
offering at Mass; and during the three
days he tasted on bread. herbs salt,
and water. At sthe Mass on the third
day the priest called him 20 the altar,
before the Communion, and adiured
him by the God Whom he adored. by
the religion which he prcfessed, by the
baptism by which he had been regen-
Grated, and by the holy relics which
reposed in the church, not to receive
the Eucharist or go to the ordeal if
his conscience reproached him with the
crime of which he had been accused.
Holy Communion was then adminis-
tered with these words: May this
body and blood -pf our Lord Jesus
Christ prove thee innocent or guilty
this day." When Mass was finished
the accused was again expected to
deny the charge. and take the follow
ing oath: .'In the Lord am guiltless
both in word and deed of the crime
of which I am accused
DR.. Lingard remarks that the prac-
tice of ordeal prevailed among all the
northern nations that embraced Chris
tianity after the fifth century. But
Masses of judgment were by no means
confined to the 'illiterate or to those
newly emerging from barbarism. The
most cultivated and civilized had re-
course to them, and they were in vogue
among some of the'most refined nations
of Europe.
This practice Of. detecting crime by
having immediate recourse to God.
through the Holy Mass, was never df-
rectly sanctioned by the supreme au-
thority of the Church, and was per-
lnitted only because Of the great diff
cuity in suppressing it at once. Pope
Council of Worms in s2s, Pope. Mich
olas in ssls. and j ss sssist stsphea also
condemned it, as did several other
popes and Councils. Masses Of this
kind are now unknown in the Church
In London an old usage is still hon
ored by the Catholic members of the
Bench and Bar, who attend, i'll full
robes. the Red Mass on this opening
of the courts after the Long Vacation
every year. 1t is a magnificent and
impressive spectacle, the red vestments
of the priest contrasting l1armoniously
with the ermine of the Judges and the
dark robes of the barristers. In 1904
for the first time this historic service
was transferred from the Sandman
Chapel to the Cathedral of Westmin
ster.
! 1t Is difficult to conceive the extent
of the progress made in according lib.
erty Of conscience in England since the
penal days when priests We're hunted
down and hargcd for no greater Of
fe,se than mins'ering to the desire o.
the faithful to hear Mass. At that
time the Holy Sacrifice of the Mas:
was considered treason to the British
Government, and yet there were thou.
sands of priests who risked their live.
to keep the lamp of faith burning
While the Christmas Mass was Acinl
celebrated before a stone altar on tho
mountain side Or in the inward re.
cesses of some cave in Ireland a bant
Of peasants watched at the entrance
and scouts We're posted miles away or
the hillsides straining their eyes to Sc,
IL the soldiers were approaching.
Over the Mass rocks" en- which tn,
fugitive priests had celebrated Mass
sheds were built after the penal law,
had been relaxed, and outside thes
humble shelters Of the Divine Cues
the dcvout irish knelt or stood as tn
} ceremonies Of the Mass went on. Rail
or shine, 1t mattered not; their fervo
was unabated When better. time
! came to them the humble scalan o.
Mass shed" was replaced by thu coun
try chapel. a more. fitting. abode for tn
Host. Now the stately cathedrals an,
noble churches in city and town, al
J over Ireland recall the time when tn
abbeys and churches fouris.led befor
evil days came to the country. Spail
; has been favored by being permitte
) to retain certain customs Of great an
J. tiquity in religious. ceremonies on tn
greater festivals. Thus the Midnigh
]. Mass; Of Christmas IS sung with ac
Compartments of:: tamnourines, cas-
tenets. bells, bugles and bird whistles
The passing ot the Blessed sacra
, ment as It liz borne to the sick i. I'm