ts, called the _apostles_,
dressed in _cappe_ of white cloth, and wearing high cap, which in form
resemble those on the bas-reliefs of Persepolis: each of them receives
from Him a towel, and a nosegay, besides a gold and silver medal
presented by the Treasurer[73]. The Pope then returns to his throne,
washes his hands[74] is vested once more in the cope, and recites the
Our Father and the concluding prayers.

[Sidenote: Dinner of the _apostles_.]

His Holiness afterwards waits on the 13 _apostles_ at table, in a hall
in the Vatican palace, (at present in the hall above the portico of S.
Peter's), giving them water to wash their hands, helping them to soup,
one or more dishes, and pouring out wine and water for them once or
twice. The plates are handed to Him by prelates of _mantelletta_, and
during the ceremony one of His chaplains reads a spiritual book. He
then gives them his blessing, washes His hands, and departs. "Which
is greater" says our Saviour, "he that sitteth at table or he that
serveth? Is not he that sitteth at table? but I am in the midst of you
as he that serveth?"

[Sidenote: Antiquity and meaning of the _lavanda_.]

From the most remote antiquity, it was customary among the Hebrews and
other nations, that the feet of strangers and guests should be washed
before they reclined at table, as they had often travelled on foot.
Thus the angels entertained by Abraham and Lot (Gen. XVIII, XIX),
were supplied with water to wash their feet: Abraham's servants in
the house of Laban, and the brothers of Joseph, when received by him,
washed their feet. (Gen. XLIII, 24)[75]. In these cases however the
guest washed his own feet; and hence the condescension of our Divine
Lord was an act not of hospitality or charity alone, but also of
profound humility; and accordingly he put on a towel or apron, like
an ordinary slave, as Ferrari observes (De Re Vestiaria par. 1).
Most interpreters are of opinion, that Christ washed the feet of His
disciples towards the close of the ordinary supper, and shortly before
He instituted the holy Sacrament; in order to signify the purity
with which it should be received. His example was imitated by His
disciples, and accordingly S. Paul (1 Tim. V, 10) speaks of widows who
"have washed the saints' feet," as Magdalen had washed those of our
Lord.

In the Roman church, as in that of Bologna, it has been for many
ages customary for the Bishop to wash feet on this day. In the _Ordo
Romanu