[Footnote 57: In Africa two were customary, one in the morning, and
the other after supper. S. August. ep. 54 ad Januarium.]
[Footnote 58: For an account of this ancient ceremony the reader
may see Fleury, Moeurs des Chretiens; _Funz. della Settimana Santa._
Martene, lib. IV, 22. etc.]
[Footnote 59: "Balsam is produced in the vineyards of Engaddi, and
in preparing chrism it is mixed with oil and consecrated by the
pontifical benediction, that all the faithful may be signed with this
unction at confirmation". Ven. Bede, in canlic. cap. I. The Greeks
bless the chrism on the same day as the Latins, having prepared it a
few days previously. See their Euchelogium, Ordo VIII entitled, On
the composition of the great ointment in the Costantinop. church ap.
Martene, loc. cit.]
[Footnote 60: Only one priest says mass in each on this day and
the other priests communicate, as on it Christ alone said mass, and
distributed the Holy communion to the apostles. Although for many
centuries both kinds were ordinarily received, yet the custom of
communicating under the form of bread alone is very ancient. Thus
in time of persecution the faithful used to carry to their houses
the holy communion under the form of bread alone, the hermits also
preserved it in the deserts, the sick received it as their viaticum,
the ministers of God kept it in the churches, for their spiritual
support, and the bishops used to send it to their clergy in token of
their union in charity.
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