All the Bells fhould be founded in claffico. After the Antiphon is finished, on arriving at the appointed Church fhould be celebrated the Mafs "Salus Populi," or other fuch, with Memorial of the Saint of that place and of All Saints, with one Alleluya. In returning, three Clerks of the highest Grade should fing the Litany (the first on Rogation Monday) which contains the Petition, "Lord, have mercy," "Who by Thy precious Blood haft redeemed the world. from the accurfed jaw of the Dragon" (See post), refponded to in the ufual manner; which should be finished at the ftep of the Choir in the original Church. Then the Priest the Verfe, "The Voice of joy and exultation," &c. Orifon: "Grant we befeech Thee, Almighty God, that in the Refurrection,' &c. If this Feaft fall on any Sunday after the Octave of Eafter, though the Faft be not observed, yet it fhould be celebrated, and folemn Memorial made of the Sunday, but no Proceffion except the ordinary one. This peculiar Solemnity was inftituted by S. Gregory, A.D. 570, who, on the occafion of a terrible peftilence at Rome, inftituted what was called the Septiform Litany, because therein all the people, clad in black, were divided into Seven Claffes, each of which affembled in one of Seven Churches, all Croffes and ornaments therein being covered up. The claffes were:-1, Clergy; 2, Laymen; 3, Abbots, with their Monks; 4, Abbeffes, with their Nuns; 5, Matrons; 6, Widows; 7, the Poor and Youths (Ordo Romanus, Hittorp, 1. 89). Paulus Diaconus (quoted by Trombelli, Ordo Senenfis, 371, n.) varies fomewhat these classes, making the Poor and Youths fourth, Laymen the fifth, and Matrons laft. The first Ordo Romanus (circa 700) mentions this Solemnity, and the Ritualists Amalarius and Walafrid Strabo declare that every Christian man is bound to observe it, not riding or clad in good garments, but in mourning. In the later English Breviaries it is marked as a Faft. Being an obfervance originally peculiar to Rome, it was not practifed with fo much formality in England and France. The Ritual, however, of John of Avranches (Migne, CXLVII. 56) gives identically the fame directions as the Sarum Proceffional, with a note that the Rogation Days were celebrated in like manner; and there were no effential differences at York, Hereford, and Exeter. On Monday in Rogations (called the Leffer Litany, and obferved as days of Abftinence), (if it be vacant), after the Sunday Mafs to be faid after Terce, the Introit of which is "The voice of joy," &c., and after None, finished whilft the Proceffion is forming, let the fame Proceffion be arranged in the Presbytery at the ftep defcending into the Choir, thus: First the Boy with the Water Stoup, next the Cross-bearer, two Cerofers in Albes, two Thuriblers, or one only, two Reliquaries carried by two Deacons of the fecond Rank in their Choir habits, then Subdeacon, then Deacon, then the Priest, but all without filk Copes, and let the Proceffion go through the midst of the Choir and Church and out by the Western door to fome Church in the city, chanting the following Antiphons; let the Standard of the Dragon precede the whole, itself preceded by three red Banners; next to the Dragon the Lion, followed by the other Banners. Let the following Antiphon be faid by the Choir in their Stalls before the Proceffion goes forth, the Precentor beginning, "Arife, O Lord, and help us," &c., "Alleluya." Pfalm, "Deus auribus noftris," "O God, we have heard with our ears," &c.; the first Verse only with "Gloria Patri," &c.; and then let the Antiphon be repeated, and fo with the remainder. Now let the Proceffion iffue forth, the Precentor beginning the Antiphon, "Ye faints arife," &c. Pfalm: "Deus mifereatur nobis," &c. ("God, be merciful unto us,") &c., "Gloria Patri;" the Antiphon repeated as before, with the first Verses of several other Pfalms, each with "Gloria Patri" and their respective Antiphons. (Special Pfalms and Antiphons for Serenity of Weather, against Mortality, and in time of War.) Then, if the length of way permitted, followed the Seven Penitential Pfalms, each with "Gloria Patri" and "Sicut erat," and the Antiphon "Ne reminifcaris, Domine" ("Remember not, Lord, our offences," &c.) Then let the full Litany follow, with the Verfes and following Orisons, all without note. Whatever the Priest fays of the Litany should be repeated wholly and fully by the Choir, up to and including "Peccatores Te rogamus," &c. ("Sinners, we befeech Thee hear us"). Then after "Ut pacem dones," &c. (" That Thou wouldest grant us peace," &c.) let the Choir reply, "Te rogamus audi nos," &c. (" We befeech Thee hear us," &c.), and fo after each Verfe, up to and including "Fili Dei, Te rogamus audi nos," ("Son of God, we befeech Thee hear us"), when the Choir fhould again repeat, whole and entire, whatever the Litanift says up to and including the third and laft "Agnus Dei, qui tollis," &c. ("Lamb of God, Who takest away the fins of the world, have mercy upon us"), where the first Litany, properly speaking, fhould terminate; and if the Proceffion be to another Church, the Priest and Affiftants ought to have arrived at the door of that Church. When thus arrived they should enter it, and advance towards the Altar, the Choir finging the Responsory and its Verse, and afterwards the Antiphon, Verse, and Orison of the Saint to whom the Church is dedicated before the Altar. Next let there be faid, in proftration before the Altar, the Prayers beginning "Lord, have mercy," "Chrift, have mercy," "Lord, have mercy, "Our Father," &c., "And lead us not," &c., "But deliver," &c., "Shew us, O Lord, Thy mercy," R., " And grant," &c., with the Collects in full as in the ordinary Ferials in Lent, as directed in the Breviary, all in proftration and without note. Then fhould follow the Mass for the Fast, and then, it may be, a Sermon; after which, if it were a Double Feast, three Clerks of the higher Grade should fing (if it were not a Feast two of the fecond grade fay) in the middle of the Proceffion, as it returns into the Church by the Weft door, (in this and the two fucceeding days,) one of the fucceeding four Litanies. From the Confuetudinary of S. Ofmund, it appears that on the Monday the Proceffion went out first by the Weft gate of the City, round the North fide, to fome Church in the fuburbs, and back by the Eastern gate; on the Tuesday by the reverse path to some other Church outside, and back; on the third day to any Altar or place that might be felected. The "Proceffionale" adds, on the Tuesday the Great Mass of S. Mary should be faid; but if any Feaft with Rulers happen, then the Mafs "Salus populi" should be faid at the Station in the Proceffion; on the Wednesday (the Vigil of the Ascension), that for Peace. If a Feast with Rulers fall on the Monday, the Sunday Mass should be transferred to Tuesday or Wednesday, and be faid at the Station in the Proceffion. So if a Feast with Rulers happen on the Wednesday, the Mafs for the Vigil fhould be faid at the Station. On these three days the Choir Mass is faid after Sext; after that None, and then the Proceffion fhould fet forth. In all these days the longer Litany was faid in Proceffion in the aforesaid mode in going, and one of the four shorter in returning. In all of these laft the Proceffion moved forward from the Altar of the Church from whence they were returning, fo foon as the Choir arrived at the "Sancta Maria," &c., and not until then. On the Vigil of the Afcenfion, both going and returning, the Standard of the Lion preceded, as being now victorious; that of the Dragon came last, "caudâ depreffâ "--but with this exception the Proceffions fhould be the fame as on the former days, to fome selected Altar or Church; but, in returning, the Priest should say the Verfe, "Rejoice in the Lord," &c., "And be triumphant, all ye," &c.; Orifon, "O Lord, mercifully regard our infirmities," &c. Similar Litanies are directed to be faid by Lanfranc in the Rule which he drew up for his Benedictines (Opera, Giles, 122); fo by John of Avranches (Migne, CXLVII.), and by the Ordo Senenfis (C. ccxxxII. p. 204 et feq.). The Ufe of Wells is precifely that of Sarum. Exeter was fimilar, as well as thofe of York and Hereford. According to the Ordo Romanus (Hittorp. 1. 89), Amalarius (Lib. 1. 87) quoting the "Gefta Francorum" of Gregory of Tours (A.D. 573) and other authorities, these Litanies and Proceffions were inftituted by Mamertus, Bishop of Vienne (circa 459), and the days obferved as ftrict fafts till the evening, on account of a great peftilence among cattle which happened in France in his time. In Spain they were deferred till after Pentecoft, but the whole of Western Christendom obferved them as above. Sidonius Apollinaris mentions Mamertus (Epist. x1.) : "Hic folemnibus annuis paravit Quæ quo tempore lecta convenirent." And later authorities have shown that thefe Rogation days and Proceffions were customary before the times of Mamertus, who only fettled their order and regulated them. As De Moleon remarks (p. 343), they were formerly always made with bare feet with staves; but that was disused, and the ftaves turned into rods or wands "ad defendendum Proceffionem" (Ibid. 30, 68, 74, 232). The fame author gives the Ritual of these Proceffions at Rouen at length, according to the ancient Ordinal (p. 340), and it agrees closely with the English forms. On the Vigil of Pentecoft the Litanies fhould be fung in Proceffion, and the Fonts bleffed in the fame way in all things as on the Vigil of Easter (ante, p. 203). In returning, the rhymed Litany "Rex Sanctorum." From a very early period Baptisms took place on this day especially. According to the MS. Confuetudinary of S. Paul's, London (88), in the thirteenth century, once in the year without fail, on Monday of the week of Pentecoft, all the suburban Prefbyters, with their people, were to affemble with Banners and Croffes. On the Tuesday, in like manner, the Presbyters and people of the Archdeaconry of Middlesex; on the Wednesday, thofe of the Archdeaconries of Effex and Colchester. The Archdeacons, if present, or their officials, were to follow the Proceffions, and bring them into the Mother Church, with hymns and praises. When the Proceffion was finished, they were to vifit the Great Altar of their Patron the Teacher of the Gentiles, with due oblations and votive offerings. So on the following week days the remainder who could not be prefent at the Proceffions fhould do the fame, according to their several opportunities. At Vespers on Saturdays, from Trinity Sunday to Advent, after all the Memorials, let a Proceffion go before the Crofs, whatever be the Service (unless it be a Double Feast), down the middle of the Choir, having been first ordered in the Prefbytery at the Step into the Choir, with Cerofers and Thuriblers in Albes without a Crofs; then a Boy bearing the Book before the Prieft; then the Officiator with a Silk Cope, but both wearing Surplices; next two Rulers in the middle of the Proceffion, who are to begin the Antiphons both in going forth and in returning; the Choir following in their ordinary Vestments. These Antiphon: "O Glorious Crofs," &c., finished with "Alleluya," when that is faid, with the other Antiphons in order, as may be neceffary. finished, the Crofs fhould be incenfed. After which, at the Station, Verse: "We adore Thee, O Christ," &c. R.: "For by Thy Cross Thou haft redeemed," &c. Orifon: "God Who haft willed to fanctify the Standard of the life-giving Cross by the precious Blood of our Lord Jefus Chrift Thy Son, Grant we beseech Thee that those who rejoice in the honour of the fame Holy Cross may ever rejoice alfo in Thy protection. Through the Same," &c. In returning, the Antiphons, Verfes, and Orison should be of S. Mary. During the fame period, when it is the Sunday Service, at the Proceffion before Mafs, Refponfories of the Holy Trinity; before the Crofs, Antiphons, Verfe, and Orifon of the Crofs, and the Petitions, as in the First Sunday in Advent; re-entering the Choir, they should be of S. Mary. X. THE PETITIONS OF THE FULL LITANY. [After the last invitation, "All ye Saints. Pray," &c., forthwith follows: "Be favourable, fpare us, O Lord!" The Choir of the Clergy the fame. "From all evil. Deliver us, O Lord!" [The Choir the fame; and fo on with each Petition until pronouncing this claufe, "Sinners, we."] "From the fnares of the Devil. Deliver us, O Lord!" "From everlasting damnation. Deliver." "From the perils of our fins which threaten us. Deliver." "From the appetite of vain glory. Deliver." "From all impurity of mind and body. Deliver." ["From the peftilence of pride. Deliver." "From carnal defires. Deliver." Deliver." "From the perfecution of the Pagans and all our enemies. Deliver."'] "From anger and hatred, and all ill-will. Deliver." ["From the wrath to come. Deliver."] "From unclean thoughts. Deliver." "From blindness of heart. Deliver." "From lightning and tempeft. Deliver." "From fudden and unforeseen [and eternal3] death. Deliver." "By the mystery of Thy Holy Incarnation. Deliver." "By Thy Nativity. Deliver." "By Thy Holy Circumcifion. Deliver." |