from Caere on account of its proximity to Rome: this may be another
reason for the adoption of the term _ceremony_, which was afterwards
applied to the rites of all religions[2].

[Sidenote: Object of ceremonies.]

But what, it may be asked by many, is the use of ceremonies? I shall
answer in the words of the council of Trent. "Since the nature of man
is such, that he cannot easily without exterior helps be raised to
the meditation of divine things, the church as a pious mother has
instituted certain rites, namely, that some things in the mass should
be pronounced in a low voice and others aloud; she has also used
ceremonies, as mystical benedictions, lights, incense, vestments,
and many other things of that kind, from apostolical tradition and
discipline, in order that the majesty of so great a sacrifice might
be displayed, and the minds of the faithful might be excited by these
visible signs of religion and piety to the contemplation of those
sublime things which are concealed in this sacrifice". Session XXII,
c. V.--These words lead us to treat briefly of the mass, the principal
act of divine worship during holy-week as at all other seasons of the
year. This we do now the more readily, that we may not afterwards be
obliged to interrupt our account of the peculiar ceremonies of Holy
week, which presuppose an acquaintance with the mass.

[Sidenote: Institution of the mass.]

Jesus Christ instituted the mass at his last supper, when he took
bread and blessed and broke and gave to his disciples and said, Take
ye and eat, this is my body; and taking the chalice he gave thanks,
and gave to them saying, Drink ye all of this: For this is my blood
of the new testament, which shall be shed for many unto remission of
sins: Matth. XXVI, 26. In this brief account are mentioned all the
_essential_ parts of the mass. Christ commanded the apostles and
through them their successors to perform the same holy rite "in
commemoration" of Him, and they obeyed His commands, as we learn from
the acts of the apostles, and the first epistle to the Corinthians.

[Sidenote: Its early ceremonies.]

Gradually various prayers and ceremonies were added to the sacred
words pronounced by Christ, as the Apology of St. Justin, the writings
of St. Cyprian, the catechetical discourses of St. Cyril of Jerusalem
and other early works prove. The Apostles themselves had added the
Lord's prayer[3]. The liturgy however during the first four centuries,
a