[168] In the life of Zosimus († 418) it only says: “Per parrocia concessa licentia cereum benedici.” It is doubtful if these obscure words refer to the Paschal candle. Cf. Duchesne, Lib. Pont., i. 225.
[169] “Hoc autem die inclinante ad vesperam statuta celebratio noctis Dominicæ in ecclesia incipitur,” etc. (Rabanus Maurus, De Cleric. Instit., 2, 38; Migne, Patr. Lat., cvii. 350). “Post nonam (3 p.m.) vestiantur omnes qui ad sacram aliquid habuerint legendi,” etc. (Consuet. Farf., ed. Albers, 55). The Constit. Lanfranci give the same hour (Migne, Patr. Lat. cl. 466). According to Ordo Rom., x. App., No. 16, the ceremonies began at hora sexta (noon). The Greeks and Russians have their Mass after their evening service or Vespers. Maltzew, xciii.; Hefele, Beiträge, ii. 291.
[170] Cf. Augustin., Sermo 228 in die paschæ V.: “Post laborem noctis præteritæ ... diu vos tenere sermone non debeo.” In Africa the baptism took place in the night between Saturday and Sunday, Sermo 214, c. 1.
[171] Muratori, Lit. Rom. Vet., ii. 61-66.
[172] Migne, Patr. Lat., lxxii. 364-71.
[173] Migne, Patr. Lat., lxxii. 268-77.
[174] Migne, lviii. 90. Ordo Rom. I. (ib. 951 et seqq.) gives the later ritual directions for the three last days of Holy Week.
[175] Binterim (Denkw., v. 247) thinks it was not observed when the anniversary of the previous Easter fell on Lent.
[176] So Durandus, De Off. Eccl., 6, 88. In the Consuet. Farf. (ed. Albers), 58, a solemn procession of the monks in the monastery and in the church is also mentioned.
[177] Ordo Rom., xiv. c. 95; Migne, Patr. Lat., lxxviii. 1219. Some of the customs approached the dramatic, e.g., Martène, iii. 483, 506 et seq.