A Cotteswold Shrine; Being a Contribution to the History of Hailes, County Gloucester - Manor, Parish and Abbey (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908 Excerpt: ... the Cistercians naturally shew more easily in the dim light than do those of their kindred Benedictines, and the little errors committed by them in quire are more readily detected by their superiors. Ave Maria gratia plena. t Of course, in cases (as at Tintern) where the Cloister lay north of the Church, it was different. The Abbot now gave the signal to cease tolling, and all kneeled down to recite the Pater, Ave, and Credo. After this the antiphoner gave forth the first of the ' Gradual' Psalms. These were committed, like the rest of this service, to memory, so that all might be independent of the dubious illumination. For all mistakes made or lapses of memory, however, there were allotted penances. The office for the Dead followed. This ended, the interval before dawn was occupied by meditation in the Cloister. A second tolling now commenced for matins proper. Hailes had five bells, but only one of these might be rung at a time. At a signal (sometimes given by striking a wooden disc with a clapper), this ceased, and the hebdomadarian commenced intoning the Office. Other psalms followed the 'Venite, ' and then the reader, first bowing to the Abbot and then to the choir, carried his candle to the lectern and at once read the first lesson. This was succeeded by the 'Responsorium' leading to the other lessons. After Te Deum, a priest intoned the gospel, ending the Office with the especial prayer for the day. On particular feast days, the gospel was read from the chancel-steps, the cantor being robed in amice, stole, and maniple, and accompanied by incense and extra lights. No cope was permitted in the stricter Houses of the Order. Only at mass when blessing, or in festal procession, did the Abbot wear alb, mitre and pastoral staff; the deacon wearing tunicle..