John Chrisostom,
which is followed by the last gospel. Then invoking the holy cross he
blesses the people, who unite in praising God. He finally blesses them
again, and distributes blessed bread (not consecrated) among them. At
S. Gregorio Illuminatore Vespers are added and said _in circolo_: the
clergy carry tapers; and the gospel is held up by the Celebrant to
implore blessings on the people.
[Sidenote: Reflections.]
These ceremonies may appear singular to us, who are of a different
clime and different customs; their music in particular is little in
accordance with our taste, or notions of melody and harmony. Yet the
remark of Montfaucon (Diario Italico) "aera Dodonaea dixisses", alluding
to the brass kettles of the oracle (Potter Arch. Graec. B. 2, Sec. 8)
is an exaggeration. Their _flabelli_ are of metal, of a round form,
surrounded with little bells, which are sounded at the seraphic hymn,
to express, if we might believe Cancellieri, "by the trembling of the
hands, that of the blessed spirits, who assist at the throne of the
Divine Majesty with fear and trembling". (Tre Pontific. Not. VI).
Their mass is anticipated, but not at so early an hour as that of
the Latin. (Even in the Latin church, permissions to say mass in
the afternoon of this day have been granted by some Popes; they may
be seen in Cancellieri. _Funz. d. Sett. S. p_. 183, 184). Amid the
numerous differences between their rite and our own, the attentive
spectator will not fail to remark the similarity of the substance and
order of their liturgy, and of that of the Roman church; although,
with the solitary exception of the beginning of the mass, both have
existed independently of one another during the last 1400 years.
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