A church dictionary

by Walter Farquhar Hook

Pall is also used for a covering; as the black cloth which covers the coffin at funerals, and sometimes for an altar cloth. Thus at the coronation, the sovereign makes an oblation of a pall, or altar cloth of gold.

PALM SUNDAY. The Sunday next before Easter, so called from palm branches being strewed on the road by the multitude, when our Saviour made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

This week, immediately preceding the feast of Easter, is more especially designed to fit us for that great solemnity; and, to that end, is to be spent in more than ordinary piety and devotion. It was anciently called sometimes the Great Week, sometimes the Holy Week, because it hath a larger service than any other week, every day having a second service appointed for it, in which are rehearsed at large the sufferings of Christ, as they are described by the four evangelists; that by hearing and reading the history of his passion, we may be better prepared for the mystery of his resurrection; that, by his rising from the dead, we may be quickened to newness of life. This day, which begins this holy week, is called by the name of Palm Sunday, being the day on which our Saviour entered Jerusalem with great joy; some spreading their garments, others cutting down branches of palm, carrying them in their hands, and strewing them in the way, which hath been remembered with great solemnity.—Dr. Hole.

In the missals this Sunday is called Palm Sunday; and in many parts of England it still retains its ancient name. On this day, till the æra of the Reformation, the people in solemn procession carried in their hands palms, or branches of some other tree, in commemoration of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem five days before his death. The palms were then placed on the altar by the clerks, before the time of the celebration of the eucharist; and numerous benedictory collects were pronounced over them by the priest.—Shepherd.

The collect for the day puts us in mind of the tender love of God towards mankind, in sending his Son, not only to take upon him our flesh, but to suffer in it the death of the cross for our sins; to the intent, “that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility;” and thence teaches us to pray, “that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection.”

The Epistle for the day presents us to this purpose with the highest and best pattern for our imitation, even the Son of God, who hath done and suffered all these great things for us.

This Gospel, with the rest that follow on each day of this holy week, gives us an ample account of the death and passion of our blessed Saviour, together with the many circumstances that went before and came after it.—Dr. Hole.

PANTHEISM. (Πᾶν, all; Θεὸς, God.) A subtle kind of atheism, which makes God and the universe the same, and so denies the existence and sovereignty of any God over the universe. It is to be feared that much of the mere natural religion of the present day partakes of the character of Pantheism.

PAPA. (Πάππας, Greek.) A name originally given to the bishops of the Christian Church, though now it is become in the West the pretended prerogative and sole privilege of the pope, or bishop of Rome. The word signifies no more than father.

Tertullian, speaking indefinitely of any Christian bishop who absolves penitents, gives him the name of Benedictus Papa. Heraclas, bishop of Alexandria, has the same title given him. St. Jerome gives the title of Papa to Athanasius, Epiphanius, and Paulinus; and, writing often to St. Augustine, he always inscribes his epistles Beatissimo Papæ Augustino.