Isidore
of Seville: de Ecclesiasticis Officiis (Ancient Christian Writers) trans. Fr. Thomas
L Knoebel
XXVIII (XXVII). THE DAY OF PALMS
The Day of Palms is celebrated because, as the
prophet sang, on this day our Lord and savior is reported to have sat on a
donkey, heading toward Jerusalem. Then, while going along, a multitude of people with palm branches cried out to him along
the way: "Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the
Lord-the King of Israeli" [john 12:13]. In the palm branches there was
signified the victory that the Lord was about to achieve over death by dying,
and that, by the victory of the cross, he was about to triumph over the devil,
the prince of death. By sitting on a
donkey, however, the one who came to Jerusalem was revealing the simple hearts
of the heathen, which, by presiding over
and ruling, he was leading to the vision of peace.
On this day “the Symbol" is handed over to
the elect because of its close proximity to the solemnity of the Lord's Pasch,
so that, since they are already hastening to receive the grace of God, they
might recognize the faith they are confessing. The
common people call this day the "washing of the heads,"because on this day it is the custom to wash the
heads of the infants who are about to be anointed, lest perhaps they might come
to the anointing soiled by the observance of Lent.
XXIX
(XXVIII). THE LORD'S SUPPER
The Lord's Supper is the fifth day of the last
[week] 'of Lent, when our Lord and savior, passing from that completed
prefiguring of the Pasch to the true Pasch, for the first time handed over to
his apostles the mystery of his body and blood. Then,
after the heavenly sacraments, the deceitful disciple and traitor accepted the
price from the Jews and put the blood of Christ up for sale. On that day also,
the savior "got up from the table and began to wash the disciples'
feet" [John 13:4-5] in order that the form of humility that he had come to
teach would be recommended, just as he subsequently explained. He did this also
because it was most fitting that he should teach by doing what he had previously
admonished the disciples to observe. (2) For this reason on this day the altars
and the walls and floors of the church are washed and the vessels that are
consecrated to the Lord are purified. And on this day also the Holy Chrism is
prepared, because two days before Passover Mary arranged to perfume the head
and feet of the Lord with oil. And thus the Lord "said to his disciples:
You knowthat after two days the Passover is coming, and
the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified" [Matt 26: 1-2] .
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