The ceremonies of holy-week are performed at S. John Lateran's[128] by the chapter of that protobasilica, and resemble for the most part those which we have already described. On holy-saturday however, in addition to the rites before mentioned, the font of the baptistery is blessed by the Card. Vicar, baptism is solemnly administered there to adults, the newly-baptised are confirmed in the church, ordination is conferred during mass upon candidates, for the priesthood. We shall treat briefly of these various ceremonies.
Blessing of the fonti: baptistery.
After the twelve prophecies have been recited, the Card. Vicar, (as the representative of the Bishop of Rome) wearing a purple cope and a mitre, goes in procession from the tribune of the basilica to the baptistery[129]. He is preceded by acolythes bearing the paschal candle[130], and the cross and usual lights, as well as by the candidates for baptism and orders, and the chapter of the basilica. In the mean time the beautiful tract, As the stag thirsts for the fountains of water, etc. is sung[131]. His Em. then chants the prayers appointed for the benediction of the font; he divides the water with his hand in the form of a cross, exorcises it, touches it, signs it three times with the sign of our redemption, and pours some of it towards the four parts of the world, in allusion to the command of Christ: "Go teach all nations, baptising them" (Matt. XXVIII). He then dips the paschal candle three times into the water, singing, and each time raising his voice to a higher pitch than before: "May the power of the Holy Ghost descend upon the fulness of this font"; as when He descended, says Gavant, "in the form of a dove at the baptism of Christ represented by this candle plunged into the water". Then breathing three times on the water nearly in the form of a cross "that he may unite the Trinity with the cross" (as the same author observes) he continues the chant, and raises the candle from the water, alluding in the prayer to "the effect of baptism, which confers grace, raising the soul from sin to glory". (Gavant). The blessed water is then sprinkled upon the people, and some of it is reserved to be sprinkled in houses, etc. In order to sanctify the water still more, the Cardinal now pours into it, in the form of a cross, oil of catechumens and chrism; and mixes them with the water of the font, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This last ceremony is intended to signify, according to mystical interpreters, such as Amalarius, Honorius, Durandus, etc. "the union of Christ by baptism with the members of the church" (Gavant). The prayers of this benediction, most of which are sung in the tone of the preface at ferial mass, contain beautiful allusions to the mention of water in the Old and New Testaments, as for instance: "O God, whose Spirit at the very beginning of the world was borne upon the waters, that the nature of water might even then conceive the power of sanctification; O God, who washing with waters the crimes of a guilty world, didst sign the figure of regeneration in the very out-pouring of the deluge; may this font receive of the Holy Ghost the grace of thy only begotten Son"[132].
Baptism of adults.
The Cæremoniale Episcoporum prescribes that infants, except in danger of death, should not be baptised during the eight preceding days, that they may be reserved for holy-Saturday. The beginning of the baptismal service and the exorcisms are performed privately in the sacristy by the parish-priest, while the prophecies are read in church[133]. After the font has been blessed, the catechumens wearing a long white dress, and accompanied by their respective godfathers and godmothers, approach the font, and in turn ascend. In answer to the questions of the Cardinal (who is now vested in a white, and not a purple, cope,) having renounced Satan and all his works and pomps, they profess their belief in the articles of Christian faith, and their desire of baptism[134]: then assisted by their sponsors they are baptised by infusion in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; they are anointed with chrism, receive a white garment, with a charge to bear it unspotted before the tribunal of Christ, and in fine a lighted taper, that "when the Lord shall come to the nuptials, they may meet him in the heavenly court unto life everlasting".
Litanies and confirmation.
The litanies are sung, while the procession returns to the church, where the newly-baptised are confirmed in a side-chapel, and exhorted to perseverance in virtue, by the Cardinal[135]; the litanies are then continued, but cease while all kneeling venerate the heads of SS. Peter and Paul shewn from above the high altar; the procession afterwards returns to the tribune, where the mass of the day is sung, and orders are conferred by the Cardinal-Vicar.
Mass and ordination.
The orders of priests and deacons are often mentioned in the N. Testament: and the church, as S. Thomas observes, instituted the inferior orders. Subdeacons are mentioned by Pope Cornelius and S. Cyprian in the 3rd century, as well as acolythes, exorcists, and lectors. S. Augustine and S. Gregory Nazianzen speak of ostiarii; and the clerical tonsure is mentioned by S. Isidore at the beginning of the 5th century, as a rite established before his time. Orders are conferred by the laying on of hands and prayer, as the scripture teaches, and also by the delivery of the instruments belonging to each order: appropriate exhortations addressed to the candidates for the different orders are interspersed with the prayers prescribed in the pontifical. (On their antiquity the reader may consult Morinus de Ordinationibus, Martene de Antiquis Eccl. Ritibus, T. 2. etc.) The tonsure is given after the Kyrie eleison of the mass, the 4 minor orders after the Gloria in excelsis; subdeacons are ordained before the epistle, which one of them repeats; deacons after the epistle and finally priests after the first part of the tract. These last, after the imposition of hands, receive their peculiar vestments, viz. the stole hanging down in front, and the chasuble: their hands are anointed with oil of catechumens, and they receive a chalice containing wine and water, a paten with a host, and power to say mass. (Luke XXII, 19). After offerings of candle have been made to the ordaining Bishop, the new priests join him in saying mass[136]: and after the newly-ordained and baptised have communicated, the priests profess their faith by reciting the apostles' creed; they receive power to forgive and retain sins (John XX, 22, 23), they promise reverence and obedience to their ecclesiastical superior, and receive the bishops blessing, who then directs that masses and prayers be said by those whom he has ordained, and recommends himself to their prayers. In other respects the mass is similar to that of the Papal chapel[137]. Morcelli in his calendar in summing up the ceremonies of this day, having mentioned the station at S. John Lateran's, the baptism of Jews and Turks, and mass in the papal chapel, says that at the Gloria, tonitrus tormentorum ab Arce fiunt, Æra templorum ac Turium sonant.
Armenian Catholics: