domestic furniture,* exhibit figures in similar positions. Anciently this gesture was common both to the Clergy and Laity during the time of prayer; but now, with the exception of some places in the. southern parts of Germany, where the people still employ it in the Churches,† it is observed by the Priest only.

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Amongst ancient ecclesiastical authors, the word 'Collect' signifies a meeting of the faithful for the purposes of prayer.‡

In the early times of Christianity, it was usual for the people to assemble in a particular Church on fast-days, but especially during the season of public calamity, in order afterwards to proceed in regular procession to another church previously determined upon, for the celebration of what was called, in the language of the period, a station.§

* Buonarruoti, Vasi Antichi di vetro, plates xviii. and xxi. The writer particularly noticed this custom at Munich, where he observed numbers of people at the Cathedral and other churches, praying with outstretched hands, and in a posture exactly resembling the one so often to be seen on ancient Christian monuments.

In the writings of the Fathers the following expressions; collectas agere congregari ad collectam-which are of frequent occurrence, are to be understood in this sense.

§ The ceremony was denominated station,' because it was at the second Church that the procession stopped to hear Mass, and listen to a sermon. It was on occasion of these stations that Pope St. Gregory, the Apostle of England, preached the major part of his Homilies to the Roman people.

When the Clergy and the people had assembled at the place appointed, the Bishop, or the Priest who was to officiate, recited over the collected multititude a short prayer, which, from the circumstance, was denominated the Collect, or the gathering prayer.

2. As the Mass is the principal service of the Church, for the celebration of which the faithful are collected; we see the propriety of denominating by the term Collect, that prayer which the Priest puts up to God in behalf of those amongst his servants who have come together to adore him. In fact, the ancient mode of saying the Collect, furnishes another warrant for the propriety of such a designation. Before the Celebrant began the prayer itself, he exhorted, as he does now, the people to offer their petitions to heaven, by saying

Let us pray.'-The Deacon then proclaimed aloud-'Let us kneel down'-and, after a pause, which was employed by all present in silent supplication, that minister a second time cried out;— 'Stand up again.'-The Priest then rising from his knees, prayed aloud. Though not the name, the

* In the Sacramentary of St. Gregory, there are two prayers for the Feast of the Purification: the first is entitled;-The Collect at St. Hadrian's-the church at which the Clergy and people met, before proceeding to St. Mary Major's, where the second was recited as the Collect in the Mass of the Festival.

+ An illustrious Father of the Greek Church, St. Basil, who died in the year 379, refers, in his book on the Holy Ghost, c. xxvii. to this ceremony, which is still observed throughout the Latin

form however, of prayer, which we have in the Collect, may be traced up to Apostolic origin. Many of the occasional Collects now in use, are proved, by referring to the Sacramentaries of Popes Gelasius and Gregory, to have been composed more than thirteen hundred years ago.

It may, in conclusion, be observed, that as it is the official duty of the Priest to stand between the Altar of God and the people, to collect the vows and the petitions of those around him, and offer them up altogether to the throne of grace and mercy, hence the formula employed for such a purport, has been very properly, from this circumstance alone, denominated Collect,-from the collection which the pastor makes of the prayers of his flock, and from his afterwards compressing in one common summary, the requests of each single individual.

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By making a reverence before the Crucifix, by bowing his head as he pronounces the sacred name of Jesus, and by kissing the text of the Gospel; the Priest intends to honour and worship, not an image, nor a book, nor a sound, but Jesus Christ himself in heaven, who is represented and called

Church, at the Quatuor Tempora, or Ember days, on Good Friday, and Holy Saturday; with this only difference, that at High Mass the Sub-deacon, and at Low Mass the Acolyte, without allowing any time to transpire in a pause, says;-" Stand up again."

to his remembrance by these several sensible signs and figures. To these symbols of Jesus, the Priest exhibits no more honour than the Jewish priesthood, by an express command of God, manifested to the Ark of the Testament, and to the Temple. The Catholic neither worships nor prays to, nor reposes any trust in images, as the Heathens did in their idols; nor does he believe any power or virtue to reside in them. He is expressly taught by his Church-' that images have neither life nor sense to help him.' (Concilium Trident. Sess. 25, and the first Catechism.) For some further observations upon Images, see Part 2, Ch. x.

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Such an admonition is addressed by the Priest to his congregation for the purpose of warning them that his prayers are for the cominon benefit; and of assuring them that it will be in vain for him to lift up his hands towards heaven in their behalf, unless they also elevate their hearts at the

same moment.

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The Acolyte in the name of the people answers; -'Amen' at the end of the Collect, Post-communion, &c. and thus ratifies what the Priest has been saying, according to the custom of the Jews, and primitive Christians. Amen is a Hebrew word employed to confirm what has been announced;

and according to the tenor of the discourse to which it is appended, signifies, either—that is true,'-or-' may it be so,'-or-'I agree to that.' It is, in reality, a form of speech indicative of an assertion, a desire, or a consent. 1. When the Amen is uttered after a declaration of the truths of Faith, as for instance the Creed, it is a simple assertion, and signifies,-'that is true.' 2. The Amen indicates a wish, when it follows a prayer in which the Priest expresses a desire for some blessing or a spiritual good; for example, the conversion of nations, health of soul and body, and rest to the spirits of departed brethren. 3. When the Priest recites a prayer which pledges us to the performance of any thing, the Amen repeated after it, declares our determination to comply with the engagement.

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For some remarks on the Intercession of Saints, see Part 2, Ch. v.

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The Jews commenced the public service of their Sabbath by reading Moses and the Prophets:* the first Christians followed their example, and during divine worship on the Sunday, read passages from the Old or New Testament. But as these

*Acts, C. xiii. V. 15.

Tertul. Apol. C. xxxix.