[16] Spanish, casamientos y velaciones; the former the general term for marriages, the latter also used thus, but referring especially to the nuptial mass or nuptial benedictions (which, however, were and are given only at mass). The parties might be married outside of mass—as if it were a private marriage, or if they were too poor to pay for the mass—and then did not receive the benedictions. But if at mass, they were velados—a term recalling an ancient ceremony when both parties were veiled at the marriage; i.e., the priest threw a veil over their heads. Thus Moroni in his Diccionario, who also states that “this custom is still in vogue in some places” (in his own day, about thirty years ago). La velacion was another term for the marriage ceremony at mass, and was part of the ceremony. Every woman (of good standing) is entitled to church marriage—with nuptial mass and benediction—but once only: this may be on the occasion of a second or third marriage, provided the former marriages were outside of mass; but if the first marriage were with the nuptial mass, she is barred from enjoying this privilege at subsequent marriages. These are the casamientos; the nuptial mass, or marriage accompanied by it, the velacion.—Rev. T. C. Middleton, O.S.A.
[17] Hijo de la Iglesia; a term applied to a foundling or abandoned infant; cf., the Italian appellation, “a child of the Madonna.”
[18] Spanish, octavas. None of the standard dictionaries give a meaning to cover this use of octavas. Dominguez’s Diccionario (Supplement) states that the word is a term in Roman law, designating an ancient form of tribute consisting of one part in eight. Probably it was carried over into ecclesiastical law, and here means that the cura was expected to pay one-eighth of his fees into the church fund.
[19] Spanish, canonicas monitoriales. In law books, banns (in Latin) are styled proclamationes monitoriæ.—Rev. T. C. Middleton, O.S.A.
[20] Spanish, limosna. The fees (derechos) of the cura were determined, fixed sums, as in the tariff lists, nor could he change them. The limosna—a free offering, and wholly optional with the parties for whom he officiated—was over and above the tariff charge. The cura could do with this offering what he wished—if he chose, spending it in alms; but it was given to him personally, and was for his own use. Cf. the gratificación voluntaria in the following list of fees to be paid the parish priest in Cuba, taken from the Manual de la Isla de Cuba, by José Garcia y Arboleya (2nd ed., Havana, 1859), pp. 316, 317:
| For baptism: a voluntary offering[gratificación voluntaria], the minimum ofwhich is 6 reals for the cura and 2 for the acolyte | $ 1. | |
| For burial: | of free adult | 7.50 |
| of free child | 6.50 | |
| of slave adult | 5.50 | |
| of slave child | 5. | |
| For prayers—responso with cope, sacristan, and processional cross[cruz alta], at the house of the deceased | 7. | |
| For prayers, with cope, at the burial | 4. | |
| For office (of three lections) | 5. | |
| For mass chanted (body present) | 6. | |
| For each halt [posa] | 12.50 | |
| For processional cross at the grave(without cross, .50) | 2. | |
| For each censer | .50 | |
| For each attendant in surplice | 1. | |
| For remaining till end [of interment] | 1.50 | |
| For four [church] bells [tolled] | 2. | |
| For three [church] bells [tolled] | 1.50 | |
| For two [church] bells [tolled] | 1. | |
| For low mass [without chant] | 1. | |
| For a fiesta [feast-daycelebration] with vespers and mass chanted | 12. | |
| For a fiesta with procession | 14. | |
| For votive mass chanted | 6.50 | |
| For marriage | 7.25 | |
| For cura at the house [of theparties] | 4. | |
| For foreigners | 25. to 30. | |
| For record of baptism | 1. | |
—Rev. T. C. Middleton, O.S.A.
[21] The term Morenos, as has appeared from former documents, was applied generally to persons of swarthy complexion—mulattoes, some negroes, and Malabar natives, indiscriminately.
[22] Spanish, arraz (arras); a very old term, of Hebrew origin; hence the Latin law term of arrha, i.e., anticipated payment of part. Arras also means “thirteen pieces of money given to the bride by the bridegroom;” this or similar dowry was required by a very old and very rigorous law.—Rev. T. C. Middleton, O.S.A.
Barcia gives arras the general meaning of “that which is given as a pledge or token of any agreement. It was extended also to the marriage contract. Also, the thirteen pieces of money which in weddings serve for the formality of that function, passing from the hands of the bridegroom to those of the bride. In law, the amount which the man promises to the woman on account of his marriage to her; it cannot exceed, according to law, the tenth part of his possessions.” He defines arrha (French, arrhes) as “a pledge or token given to secure and confirm a contract.”