nt
unto death for our salvation. The affecting account of His sufferings
and death is then sung by three priests[40] belonging to the
pontifical choir, and habited as deacons in alb and stole. The history
itself is sung by a tenor voice, the words, of our Saviour by a bass,
and those of any other single voice by a _contralto_, called the
_ancilla_, as he sings the words of the _maid_ to S. Peter: the choir
sings the words of the multitude[41]. The church, mourning over the
sufferings of her divine Spouse, does not allow the incense, lights,
or the benediction and salutation usual before the gospel; but the
palms are borne to signify the triumphs consequent on His death as
they are also from the elevation till after the communion. All stand
up as usual from respect to the holy gospel ("as servants before their
Lord" Amalarius) but kneel for a short time at the words "Jesus crying
with a loud voice yielded up the ghost", to adore that God of love who
died for mankind. The latter part of the gospel is sung in the usual
chant by the deacon, but without the customary lights[42]. At the
offertory is sung the first part of the beautiful hymn _Stabat Mater_:
the music is Palestrina's, and is justly and highly panegyrised by
Baini; it has been published by Dr. Burney. Both the _introit_ and
communion are sung without, and the offertory with, counterpoint: the
_Kyrie eleison_, Gradual and tract, in plain chant. The Benedictus
qui venit is usually very beautiful. At the end of the mass, as there
has been no sermon, the Card. celebrant announces from the altar the
Pope's usual grant to all present of an indulgence[43] or remission
of the _temporal_ punishment due for past sins, whose guilt has been
already remitted.

[Sidenote: indulgences]

When the mass is ended, the palms are carried home by those who have
received them, and are preserved with respect. Two larger than the
rest are kept until the ascension, in the sacristy called the _Letto
dei Paramenti_ because anciently the aged Pontiffs after their
fatiguing walk to the stational churches used to repose on a _letto_
or bed prepared for them in the sacristy, where they afterwards put
on the _paramenti_ or vestments. The paschal candle also, an emblem
of Christ the true light, as we shall afterwards see is removed on
the day of the ascension: this circumstance may explain the
above-mentioned custom.

[Sidenote: Cardinal penitentiary at S. John Lateran's.]

In the afternoo