(Chronicon Erphordense
ad ann. 1252), S. Elisabeth of Hungary used to devote the day to
similar acts of piety, walking barefooted and in the dress of a poor
woman to the churches, and there making her humble offerings at the
altars, and distributing copious alms. On her practices of piety
during holy-week see her life by Le Cte de Montalembert c. 9.]
[Footnote 83: The Corporal, which was anciently much longer than at
present, was spread in this manner at all masses before the offertory.
See Cancellieri, De Secretariis T. I, Fleury, Moeurs des Chretiens.]
[Footnote 84: The lessons, the prayer, and the passion are found in
the ancient ordo Gelasianus for this day.]
[Footnote 85: According to the Gelasian Sacramentary all were to
genuflect at the prayer for the Jews, as well as at the other prayers;
not so according to the Gregorian Sacramentary.]
[Footnote 86: "God our Saviour", says S. Paul (1 Tim. II, 4) "wishes
all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth". The
Catholic church is animated by the same spirit of charity, as the
admirable prayers of this day might alone prove. If she teaches
exclusive salvation. Christ taught the same "He that believeth and
is baptised shall be saved: he that believeth not shall be condemned"
Mark XVI, 26. We cannot therefore consistently accuse the church
of want of charity, when she proclaims the general conditions of
salvation, without at the same time charging Christ himself, who first
taught them, with the same fault.
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