l. 2, cap 6.]

CHAP. VI.

ON THE CEREMONIES OF HOLY-SATURDAY

_CONTENTS._

Service of Easter-eve--Ceremonies of
holy-saturday-morning--Sixtine chapel. 1. Blessing of the fire
and incense-procession; Paschal candle--the deacon sings the
_Exultet_--triple candle--2. Baptism administered on this
day: communion of children in former times--prophecies--3.
The litany: invocation of Saints--change from mourning
to rejoicing--High mass: sacred pictures
etc.--_Alleluja_--Vespers--end of the mass: mass of Pope
Marcellus--Ceremonies at S. John Laterans. Blessing of
the font: baptistery--baptism of adults--litanies and
confirmation--mass and ordination--Armenian catholics--their
liturgy; and high mass on Easter-eve--reflections--Conclusion.

"_But now Christ is risen from the dead, the first-fruits of
them that sleep_". 1 Cor. XV, 20.

[Sidenote: Service of Easter-eve.]

I remarked in the last chapter, that anciently mass was not said
either on good-friday, or holy-saturday, and I quoted Pope Innocent I,
who assigns as a reason the example of the Apostles, who spent those
days in mourning for their Master. It was formerly customary to
celebrate mass on the night of Easter-eve or holy Saturday. Hence when
Tertullian, the oldest Latin Christian writer, endeavoured to dissuade
his wife from ever marrying a pagan, in case of his own death, among
other arguments he used the following; "Who will tranquilly wait for
you, when you are spending the night at the paschal solemnities?"
S. Jerome also (in cap. 25 Matt.) says, that according to apostolic
tradition, the people did not leave the church on Easter-eve before
midnight. This custom continued for many ages; but Hugh of S. Victor
in the twelfth century says, that in his time, in order to avoid
weakness arising from long fasting, the hour anciently observed was
anticipated. The service, which is now performed before noon on holy
Saturday, was formerly assigned to the night of Easter-eve: and this
anticipation accounts for the occasional mention of night, which
it contains, as well as for the early celebration of Christ's
resurrection.

[Sidenote: Ceremonies of holy saturday.]

The ceremonies of holy saturday-morning may be arranged under three
heads: 1st. the blessing of the fire and of the paschal candle: 2nd.
the preparation for, and ceremonies of, baptism: 3rd. the litany
and mass. All three allude, as we sh