Father," etc. At the same time he makes the sign of the cross upon them, and then sprinkles them with holy water. This being done, he blesses the wedding-ring, and sprinkles it also with holy water, in the form of a cross; after which he gives it to the bridegroom, who puts it on the wedding-finger of the bride.

19

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

The Sacramentals of the Church--The Devotion Paid to the Cross-The Rosary and Scapular-The Sacred Utensils--Vestments of the Priest at MassThe Funeral Service.

TH

THE SACRAMENTALS OF THE CHURCH.

HE sacramentals include the prayers of the church and the blessings of the church. All the prayers of the church said by the priest in the mass, the psalms sung in the divine office, the forms of prayer used in the administration of the sacraments, in the consecration of bishops, the consecration and blessing of churches, of bells, vestments, crosses, rosaries, and of pictures, are sacramentals. The books containing these official prayers are:

The Missal, or Mass-Book, contains the ordinary of the mass, which is the unalterable portion, and also the introits, collects, epistles, tracts, graduals, sequences, epistles and gospels, offertories, secrets, prefaces, communicantes, communions and post-communions, for the various feasts and feriæ of the ecclesiastical year; with a variety of votive masses which may be said at option on certain days, the mass of marriage, dedication of churches, and the masses of requiem, or masses for the dead. At one time many countries, and even parts of countries, had missals varying somewhat; but in later years these have gradually been laid aside, and the Roman missal is now in almost universal use, although each country has one of its own, containing services for special feasts to which the people of that country have particular

TOMB OF ST. SEBALD IN NUREMBERG,

This Tomb is situated in the Church of St. Sebaldus, in the city of Nuremberg, which is rich in old Gothic churches and is pre-eminently a city of art, and full of objects of interest to those who would see and understand Catholic Art and Religion in the Middle Ages.

The Tomb is one of the finest specimens of early German art in existence, and represents twelve years of labor on the part of its constructors. a certain Peter Vischer and his five sons. It was completed in 1519.

It still contains the original oaken coffin of the saint, but this is now enclosed in a case of silver and gold, roofed like a house, and supported on numerous figures of snails, shell-fish and dolphins. It reposes under a rich canopy and is surrounded and adorned by beautiful statuettes of the twelve apostles and prophets; while its base is decorated with sculptures in fine relief, showing the miracles of the Saint. The whole shrine is about fifteen feet high, nine long and five broad.

THE SACRAMENTALS OF THE CHURCH.

291

devotion, such as the saints who have flourished in the country, or the feasts which have become in some way patronal.

The Breviary, or Office-Book of the Church, with the Diurnal, contains the church prayers for the different hours of the day, according to the ancient division and the custom of the East. These are matins; lauds; prime, so called from being said at the first hour; tierce, said at the third hour; sext, at the sixth; none, at the ninth; vespers, or the evening service; and compline, or the concluding service of the day. Each of these parts contains some of the psalms of David, with extracts from other parts of the Bible, or from the Fathers, or an account of the feast or saint honored on the day; canticles from the Scriptures, hymns, and prayers. The breviary is divided into four parts, corresponding to the seasons; a division evidently of Jewish origin, as their prayer-books to this day are similarly divided.

The Ritual is a book containing the form of administering many of the sacraments, the funeral service, various benedictions, and minor services; while those peculiar to bishops are given in the Pontifical. The Litanies are a form of united prayer by alternate sentences, in which the clergy lead and the people respond. They are usually of a penitential character. By the name Angelus is denoted the Catholic practice of honoring God at morning, noon, and evening, by reciting three Hail Mary's, together with sentences and a collect, to express the Christian's rejoicing trust in the mystery of the incarnation.

Concerning Blessed Candles, the present custom of the Church requires that candles should be lighted on the altar from the beginning to the end of mass. The candles must be of pure wax and of white color, except in masses for the dead, when yellow ones are used. Six candles are lighted at High Mass, seven at the mass of a bishop, twelve at least at the benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Candles must also be lighted when communion is given, and one lighted candle is required in the administration of extreme unction. Holy Water is placed at the door of the church in order that the faithful may sprinkle themselves with it as they enter,