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Baggs, Charles Michael

"The Ceremonies of the Holy-Week at Rome"

The cardinal dean generally celebrates the high mass,
after the _Gloria in excelsis_ of which no bells are allowed to be
tolled in Rome (except at the papal benediction) but in their stead
are used _troccole_ or boards struck with iron: this practice is
observed until the _Gloria in excelsis_ is sung in the papal chapel
on the following saturday-morning[63].
After the offertory of the mass Palestrina's motet _Fratres ego enim_
is sung; of which Baini says that he "does not hesitate to affirm that
it resembles as closely as possible the music of heaven". Two hosts
are consecrated, one of which is received by the celebrant, and the
other destined for the following day is put into a chalice, which the
deacon covers with a paten and _palla_ or linen cloth, as the dead
body of Christ was wrapped in "fine linen"[64]. Mark XV, 46. At
the beginning of the canon twelve lighted torches are brought in
by _bussolanti_; and after the elevation two masters of ceremonies
distribute among the cardinals and others candles carried by clerks of
the chapel, in preparation for the procession. The usual kiss of peace
is not given, from detestation of the treacherous kiss given this day
by Judas to his divine master, as Alcuin remarks[65].
[Sidenote: Antiquity of processions]
Immediately after mass the cardinal celebrant with his ministers
leaves the chapel; the other cardinals, bishops and mitred abbots, put
on their respective sacred vestments, and the _Uditori di Rota_, the
_Cherici di Camera, Votanti_, and _Abbreviatiori_, their surplices:
the other prelates wear their usual _cappe_.


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