owing Walafridus Strabo and the
abbot Berno, think that the Offertory and _Agnus Dei_ are not said,
in order to signify the silence of the holy women returning from the
sepulchre (Mark XVI, 8). Others attribute some of these omissions
to the circumstance, that there is no communion; on this day, and
therefore neither offertory or postcommunion; anciently however
communion was given on this occasion, as is evident from the Gelasian
sacramentary (See Bened. XIV, De Festis c. VIII). The kiss of peace,
as Grancolas observes, is not given, because formerly at the dawn of
easter-sunday, soon after the mass of easter-eve, the faithful used to
assemble in the church "and kissing one another with mutual charity to
say, _Surrexit Dominus_ "; (the Lord is risen) Ordo Rom. ab Hittorpio
ed. p. 55. Merati says, that the _Agnus Dei_ is omitted because it
is of recent origin, having been first introduced into the liturgy by
Pope Sergius A.D. 688 (lib. Pont.), whereas the Mass of the day is of
greater antiquity.]

[Footnote 127: Cancellieri says that the music of this _Magnificat_
was composed by Luca Marenzio. Among the compositions prior to
Palestrina, and still sung in the papal chapel, Baini reckons the
Magnificats of Carpentrasso and Morales, as well as the _Te Deum_
and _Lumen ad revelutionem gentium_ of Costanzo Festa.]

[Footnote 128: This basilic, which is the cathedral of the bishop of
Rome, was first erected by Constantine, whose statue taken from his
baths adorns the portico. It was in great part destroyed by fire in
1308; but it was restored by the munificence of the Popes and the
piety of the faithful, emulated in these days, in which we deplore the
burning of S. Paul's. In the gothic tabernacle over the high altar are
preserved the heads of SS. Peter and Paul. The mosaics of the tribune
were made by order of Nicholas IV (A.D. 1278-1292).]

[Footnote 129: This baptistery, as well as the basilica, is attributed
to the time of Constantine; it was reduced to its present state by
Urban VIII; On an ancient and interesting Christian sarcophagus taken
from the Vatican cemetery is represented a basilica with its apsis,
and near it a circular building evidently meant for the baptistery:
this is covered with a cupola surmounted by the monogram of
Christ; and over the gate are curtains drawn up on each side, See
Raoul-Rochette-Tableau des Catacombs, p. 332. The font is an ancient
urn of basalt the paintings above it, between the s