THE MOVEABLE FESTIVALS. 373 



6. HOLY FRIDAY, otherwise called Good Friday. 

 Le Vendredi Saint. — Fr. 



Obs. The Church on this day commemorates the sufferings of 

 Our Lord on the Cross by a solemn service. It has always been 

 observed as a day of extraordinary devotion. In no country, hovp- 

 ever, are the ceremonies of this and other festivals observed with so 

 great pomp as at Rome. The cross of St. Peter's is then illuminated, 

 and has a fine effect. It was on this day principally that that 

 branch of the Spanish Dominicans called Flagellants used to punish 

 themselves with voluntary scourges. 



Hospinian relates a curious custom of Hallowing Rings on this 

 day. 



The Hot Cross Buns eaten today in Europe seem to be of an- 

 cient custom, though its precise origin is not known. Hutchinson 

 in his " Northumberland," following the authority of Bryant, de- 

 rives the word from the Boun, or sacred cakes offered at the Arkite 

 Temple. This is, however, doubtful. 



Holy Friday usually occurs at a time of year when the flowers of 

 the Early Spring are far advanced, and we have Snowdrops, Cro- 

 cuses, Daffodils, and the early pink blossoms of the Mazereon and 

 of the Plum trees, to decorate our parterres. 



Hymnut Sancto Die Crucif, ej OJticio. B, V. Marine, sept dolor. 



Stabat Mater dolorosa, 



Juxta Cruceni lacryiuosa, 



Dum penrlebat filius. 



Cujus animam gementem, 



Contristaiitem, dc doleBttin, 

 Pertransivit irladius. 



O quain tristis, & atBicta 



Fuit ilia beiicdicta 



Mater Unigeniti. 



Quae moerebat, & dolebat, 



Pia Mater dum videbat, 



Nati poeuas inclyti. 



Quis est homo, qui non fleret, 



Matrein Chrisli si videret 



In tanto supplicio? 



Quis lion posset contiistari, 



Matiein Cliristi coiiteinplari 



Oolentem cum filio? 



Pro peccatii suae gentis, 



Vidit lesum in tornieiitis, 



£t flagellis subditum. 



Vidit suum dulcem natum, 



Rloiientem desolatum, 



Dum emisit spiritum. 



Eja Mater tons amoris, 



Me sentiie vim doloris, 



Fac ut tecum lugeam. 



Fdc ut ardeat cor meum 



In amando Christum Deuor, 



Vt sibi complaceam. 



Kk 



