Rome, contrasted with ancient Roman
triumphs. Part 2. _Descriptive_, Palm-sunday--lights used at
mass etc.--vestments--_ubbidienza_, blessing of the palms,
benedictions, holy water, incense--distribution of the
palms--order in which the prelates and others
receive them--solemn procession with palms, _sedia
gestatoria_--ceremonies peculiar to this procession--its
antiquity--High mass, its peculiar ceremonies on
palm-sunday--Passio--Cardinal great Penitentiary at S. John
Lateran's.

"_Hosanna to the son of David: blessed is he that cometh in
the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest_". Matt. XXI, 9.

[Sidenote: P. I. Holy-week]

The sufferings and death of Jesus Christ are the mysteries which the
catholic church commemorates during holy week. "On these days" says
S. John Chrysostom (in Ps. CXCIV) "was the tyranny of the devil
overthrown, sin and its curse were taken away, heaven was opened
and made accessible". It was then becoming that christians should
consecrate these days of mercy, of grace and salvation to exercises
of penance, devotion, and thanksgiving. The imposing liturgy of the
Roman church is at this season more than usually solemn; and it is our
task to describe, and endeavour to trace to their origin, its varied
ceremonies.

[Sidenote: Palm-Sunday, Christ's entry into Jerusalem.]

Palm-sunday is so called from the commemoration of our blessed
Saviour's entry into Jerusalem, when, according to St. John (XII, 13)
"a great multitude took branches of palm-trees, and went forth to meet
him, and cried: "Hosanna, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the
Lord". Thus when Simon Maccabee subdued Jerusalem, he entered it "with
thanksgiving and branches of palm-trees, and harps, and cymbals, and
hymns and canticles, because the great enemy was destroyed out of
Israel". 1 Macc. XIII. The entry of our divine Redeemer therefore was
one of triumph: but it was also the entry of a king into his capital:
for "many spread their garments in the way" (Mark XI, 8), as when
Jehu was elected king, (4 Kings IX, 13), the Israelites spread their
garments under his feet. Thus also Plutarch relates of Cato of Utica,
that the soldiers regretting the expiration of his authority with many
tears and embraces spread their garments, where he passed on foot.

Pope Julius II returning to Rome after the siege of Mirandola
distributed palms to the Roman court at S. Maria del Popolo; and
th