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.

    71/460 (page 45)
    a A Clerk drefs’d in Purple carries the Banner of theBleffed Sacrament, after whom the Singing-Boys advance; then thofe who carry the Torches, and the Members of the Confraternity, two and two : Then the Crofs-Bearer, between two Taper-Bearers. The Clergy advance afterwards, the Clerks in b Surplices, the Deacons and Sub-Deacons in Dalmatics, and the Priefts in Copes. Thofe on the Right carry their Tapers in their Right Hand, and thofe on the Left in their Left ; they are followed by Clerks, carrying Torches: Twolncenfe-Bearers walk immediately before the Hoft, and perfume it all the way, obferving to walk fide-ways, in order not to turn their Backs to it. The of¬ ficiating Prieft carries it under a Canopy, fupported by the chief Men of the Place : The two firft Staves that fupport it are carried by two Men of the greateft DiftinCtion ; and the reft of the Perfons of Note are ranged at the Right Hand of the officiating Prieft, who is placed between the Deacon and Sub-Deacon, who holds up his Chafuble. All thefe devout Perfons fing Hymns, except the officiating Prieft, and his Minifters, who repeat what is fung with a low Voice. The Laity follow the Canopy, the Men bare-headed, and holding lighted Tapers in their Hands; and the Women clofe thePro- ceffion. ' * „r The Proceffion frequently makes a Station at fome Church by which it paftês, or at certain Altars, which are fet up for that Purpofe ; the Faithful then kneel down, while the Minifters prepare the Altar : Which being done, the Deacon places the Hoft upon it, and the officiating Prieft falls on his Knees and adores it ; after which he incenfes it thrice, making a low Bow at the fame Time, while the Hymn OJalutaris hojlia is finging : Which being done he repeats fome Prayers, receives the Hoft from the Deacon, and prepares himfelf to fet out whereupon the Chorifters begin an Hymn, which is as it were the Signal for marching. ' - _ . . V ; • * ' Being returned to the Church, the Supporters of the Canopy ftop at the Entrance of the Chancel of the Altar, when the Deacon receives the bleffied Sacrament upon his Knees, and places it again on the Altar, where the officiating Prieft incenfes it thrice, as before. After this they begin to chaunt and pray for fome Time, which being done, the Deacon rifes, bends his Knee, and places the Hoft on an Eminence fet round with lighted Tapers. ’ . V- T Thus have we defcribed the Order of this Ceremony, to which we might have ad¬ ded certain other Cuftoms ; but as they are generally obferved in all Procédions, and are ufed at the Canonization of Saints, &c. we though it needlefs to mention them in this Place. When the Hoft is not expofed, the Deacon fhuts it up in the Tabernacles after the Bleffing. During the Octave, the Hoft is expofed on the Altar ; it is alfo exhibited in any Public Calamity: But there is nothing particular in this Ceremony. When the officiating Prieft gives the Benediction with the holy Sacrament, he is firft incenfed ; during which the Choir fings the two following Hymns, Tantum ergo Sacra- mentum ; O jalutaris hojlia, 6cc. c Then the Bleffing is performed as follows : The offi¬ ciating Prieft, with his Right Hand, holds the Nodus of the Expofitor, and the Foot with his Left Hand ; then turning about towards the People, he elevates it as high as his Forehead ; after which he brings it down below the Girdle ; then raifes it in a perpen- a In Spain, and lèverai Parts of Italy, there as Buffoons and Merry-Andrews, who go at the Head of the Procef. lion, where they dance in the mod grotefque Manner, to heighten the Solemnity of the Fellival. Wehavc already obferved, that the Procédions of the old Romani were accompanied with fuch Buffooneries. b All thefe Vcftments mud be white. c diet’s Ritual.