Volume 2

The ceremonies and religious customs of the various nations of the known world. Together with historical annotations, and several curious discourses... / Written originally in French, and illustrated with a large number of folio copper plates ... designed by Mr. Bernard Picart ... Faithfully translated into English, by a gentleman some time since of St. John's College in Oxford.

Date:
1733-1739
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The ceremonies and religious customs of the various nations of the known world. Together with historical annotations, and several curious discourses... / Written originally in French, and illustrated with a large number of folio copper plates ... designed by Mr. Bernard Picart ... Faithfully translated into English, by a gentleman some time since of St. John's College in Oxford. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    > ïz Dissertation on the Chriftian Religion, « many Apparitions in a large Sheet that covers their Heads, in which they have only a “ little Hole to peep through, which often is but juft big enough for one Eye to look “ out at, thefe Maidens, I fay, walk two by two into the Choir, where all the Car- “ dinals are affembled, when they fall proftrate at the Feet of the Pope, or the Cardin » naJ who performs the Ceremony. An Officer appointed for that Purpofe, ftands on « one Side, having in his Hand a Bafon, wherein are little white tabby Bags, in each « 0f which is a Note of fifty Crowns for thofe who make choice of Marriage, and ano- “ ther Note of an hundred Crowns for fuch as prefer the Veil. When each Maiden has “ made an humble Declaration of her Choice, her Bag is given her hanging by a fmall << String: In taking it (lie gives it a Kifs, makes a low Courtfey, and immediately wheels « off, to make room for the reft. The future Nuns are diftinguilhed by a Garland of Flowers to crown their Virginity ; and they alfo have the moft honourable Place in the << Proceffion.” If the Reader ffiould inquire, whether many of them did what St. Paul calls the a better, to this the Author replies, That of three hundred and fifty Maidens, who were at this Ceremony, thirty two only chofe a religious Life 5 the remaining three hundred and eighteen contented themfelves with doing 'well, that is, being mar¬ ried. Th e Day of the Annunciation 3 Feaft in St. Maria Maggiore s, and the other Churches of the Virgin, particularly at the Nuns of Campo Marzo. 26. St. Cajlulus, Martyr 3 in St. Praxedess, where his Body lies. 27. St. Robert, Biffiop and Confeftor, of the Order of St. Bennet 3 Feaft in the Churches of his Order. 28. St. Sixtus III. Pope 3 Feaft in St. Lawrence's without the Walls, where his Body is depofited. 29. St. Eujafius, Bene didin Abbot 3 Feaft throughout the whole Order. 30. St. Quirinus, Martyr, Father of St. Balbina 3 Feftival in the Church that bears his Daughter’s Name. 31. St. Balbina, Virgin and Martyr 3 Feaft in her Church. • The Lent Stations, SEptuageJima b Sunday, the Station is at St. Lawrence's without the Walls. Sexagejima Sunday, at St. Paul's3 and at St. Maria's in Campitelli, the Expofi- tion of the bleffed Sacrament, with Ornaments^ Illuminations, Mufic, Concerts, Ser¬ mons, &c. Quinquagejima Sunday, at St. Peters. Sexagejima Monday, the c forty Hours are made in the Oratory of St. Francis Xave- riuSy with Ornaments, Illuminations, and an excellent Concert of Mufic. a He who marries his Virgin Hoes well, but he who does not marry her does better t For in this Manner does the Geneva Verfion render thefe Words of i Cor. Ch. vii. b The Name of Septuagefma is given to that Sunday which precedes Sexagejima, and which is the third before the firft Sunday in Lent, whereof Sexagejima is the fécond, and 'uinquagefima the firft. Some have affirmed, that the Septuagefma alludes to the Babylonijh Captivity of the Jews during feventy Years ; but tisalfo an Image of thefpiritual Captivity of Man under Sin. ‘The Prayer of forty Hours, during which the bleffed Sacrament is expofed on the Altar, was inftituted, or rather reviv’d, by Pope Pius IV. and Clement VIII- This Prayer is preceded and followed a by Proceffion. While the Holy Sacrament is expofed on the Altar, two Clerks Affiftants muft pray ineeffantly before it till fuch Times as they are relieved by others, and fo on in this Manner till forty Hours are expired. In order to give this pious Meeting a more folemn Air, the People ought to affift at this Prayer ; and each Family is bound to beftow an Hour at it. When the Hour is near expiring one of the Affiftants rings a little Bell, to give the Ringer Notice that the Hour is almoft ended, and then the Latter rings the great Bell to call other devout Perfons to Prayers. Tuefday,