370 



ON THE ANTIQUITIES OF 



explaining medically ihe mode of employing fasting and abstinence 

 to the greatest advantage. 



Ash Wednesday is called so from the ancient strewing of ashes 

 when the head was covered witli sackcloth in the Penitential Office 

 of the day. 



The following curious and ancient Lenten Canticum used to be 

 recited at JMattins or Ash Wednesday and the Sunday following ; 

 we believe it is from the pen of Prudentius : 



Ex more docti mystico 

 Serveiiuis hoc jejuiiiuin, 

 Derio (lieram circulo 

 Uucto quater iiotissinio. 

 Lex & Hroplietae primitus 

 Hoc practulerunt, postmodum 

 Christus sa ravit, omnium 

 Rex atque Factor temporum. 

 ' tamur ergo parcius 

 Verbis, cibis, & potibus, 

 Somno, jocis, & arctius 

 Persteinus in ciistodia. 

 Vitemus autem noxia, 

 Quae subraunt raentes vaaas ; 

 Nulluriique demus callidi 

 Hostis locum tyrannidi. 

 Flectamus irani vindicem, 

 Ploremus ante Jndicem 

 Clamemus ore supplici, 

 Dicamus oinnes certiui : 

 Nostris malis offeiidimus 

 Tuam Deus clementiam : 

 Effunde nobis desuper 

 Remissor indulgentiam. 

 Jlementoquod sumu^ tui, 

 Licet cadiici, plasmatis : 

 Ne des hoDorera Nominis 

 Tui, precamur, aJteri 

 Laxa malum quod fecimus, 

 Au^e bonum quod poscimus : 

 Placere quo tandem tibi 

 Possimus hie, & perpelim. 

 Praesta beata Trinitas, 

 Concede simplex Unitas : 

 Vt fructuosasint tuis 

 Jejuniorum munera.— Amen. 



4. PALM SUNDAY or Passioji Sunday. 



DomiHica in Rattiis Pabnarum. 

 Diraanche des Rameaux. — Fr. 



06s. The week immediately preceding Palm Sunday is called 

 Passion W^eek, and the week which follows it Holy W eek. The 

 reason why Passion Sunday has received the cognomen Palm Sunday 

 is from a custom of bearing Palms in religious processions today. 

 Our churches and chapels are also stuck up with Palms, and in 

 these northern countries of Europe the flowering branches of the 



