econd order of
columns, representing, the life of S. John Baptist, are by Carlo
Maratta.]

[Footnote 130: In a missal of Pavia it is called a figure of the
column which preceded the Israelites going out of Egypt.]

[Footnote 131: The stag was a favourite subject of the early Christian
artists, who often represented it in their paintings, and afterwards
on their mosaics. The text above quoted explains its signification.]

[Footnote 132: "In most of the old rituals we find that the font was
hallowed with various ceremonies besides prayer. It was customary
to make the sign of the cross, as we learn from the testimony of
Chrysostom, Augustine, and Pseudo-Dionysius". Palmer vol. 2, p. 195.
Martene observes that the rite of pouring chrism into the water
is mentioned in all the ancient Gallican, Ambrosian, and Mozarabic
liturgies. The blessing of baptismal water is reckoned by S. Basil,
in the 4th century, among apostolical traditions. (De Spiritu. S. c.
27).]

[Footnote 133: "Some form of admission to the class of catechumens was
used in all churches at an early period, and it seems most commonly
to have consisted of imposition of hands with prayers for the person.
To this in many places were added various rites, such as, signing the
forehead of the candidate with the cross, the consecration and giving
of salt, which was entitled the sacrament of catechumens, repeated
exorcisms, or prayers and adjurations to cast out the power of Satan,
anointing with oil, and other mystical and figurative rites. In the
course of many ages, when the Christian church had overspread the face
of the world, and infidelity had become in most places extinct, the
form of admission to the class of catechumens was from a veneration
for old customs in many places conjoined to the office of baptism,
and administered at the same time with it to the candidates for that
sacrament whether they were infants or not". Palmer, vol. 2, c. 5,
sect. 1.]

[Footnote 134: "It has been customary in the Christian church from
the most remote period, for the candidates for baptism to renounce the
devil and all his works, before they were admitted to that sacrament.
This renunciation was always followed by a profession of faith in
Christ, as it is now in the English liturgy. The last interrogation
and answer "Vis baptizari, Volo" have long been used in the west.
(Martene de Antiq. Eccl. rit. tom. I, p. 180, 192). According to the
ancient custom of the Roman church,