That of Constantine had the form of a
cross, and was surmounted with XP the first letters of Christ's name,
Eus. In Vita Const. l. 4.]
[Footnote 31: I shall not speak of some ancient ceremonies of holy
week which have fallen into disuse, such as the custom of carrying the
gospel or the B. Sacrament in triumphant procession on Palm-Sunday,
and others alluded to by Cancellieri and described by Martene, De
Antiq. Eccl. Rit.]
[Footnote 32: In times of schism caused by antipopes it was a practice
of the utmost importance. Thus we read in Baronius' Annals A.D. 1160,
that when the antipope Cardinal Octavianus, who assumed the name of
Victor, had been illegitimately elected, the chapter of St. Peter's
came immediately to the feet of the said Pope Victor, and _obeyed_
"obedivit" and the clergy and people paid due reverence to him, and a
great multitude in like manner _obeyed_: "the rectors also came to his
feet, and paid _obedience_ and reverence". Then follows a long list of
the clergy of various Roman churches, all of whom it is said that they
_obeyed_. Thus,
"The Lateran prior and his canons _obeyed_. The clergy of the
patriarchal church of S. Mary Major's _obeyed_ etc."
This _obedience_ was evidently an external sign of their acknowledging
Victor as Pope in place of Alexander, the legitimate pontiff.
Anciently the Pope received the homage of the deacons in the sacristy;
they afterwards went out of the sacristy to put on their dalmatics.
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