bishop of Lincoln's letter in favour of Sir William de Dunenverde, in 1327, "Faites & donees a Brouselles la veille de la Pentecost, lan de Grace mill troiscens trente sept."-Rymer, Fæder., t. III, p. 973. VENANTIUS.-May 12. A martyr under Decius.-Petr. de Natal., 1. V, c. 12; Hospin. de Fest., fo. 86. Venatio Piscium.-See Dominica de Venatione Piscium. Vendredi Aoré or Aorné.-Good Friday. The custom of worshipping the cross on this day (See Vol. I, p. 186,) existed in the time of Charlemagne, as appears from Amalarius, who lived in that age (l. I, c. 14): "Ut præparetur crux ante altare, quam salutant & osculantur omnes."-Ord. Rom. 1, Mabillon, Mus. Ital., t. II, p. 23, and Ord. Rom. Comment., p. lxxj. Veneres.-Fridays, and by consequence, Venus was Friday. The abbot Pirmin, who wrote in 758, treating of diabolical usages in his Libellus de Singulis Libris Canonicis Searapsus, says, that women name Minerva in their weaving, and observe Fridays, or another day, in their nuptials: "Mulieres in tela sua Minervam nominare; et Veneres aut alium diem in nuptiis observare." The whole passage, directed against the idolatry of the time is exceedingly curious: "Noli adorare idola, non ad petras, nec ad arbore; non ad angulos, neque ad fontes, ad trivios adorare, nec vota reddere. Præcantatores et sortilegos, karagios, aruspices, divinos, ariolos, magos, maleficos, sternutus et auguria per aviculas, vel alia ingenia mala et diabolica nolite facere, nec credere. Nam Vulcanalia et kalendas observare, laurus obperire, pedem observare, effundere super truncum frugem, et vinum, et panem in fontem mittere; mulieres in tela sua Minervam nominare; et Veneres aut alium diem in nuptiis observare, et quo die in via exeatur attendere, omnia ista quid aliud nisi cultura diaboli? Karuchures herbas succino nolite vobis vel vestris appendere. Tempestarias nolite credere, nec aliquid pro hoc eis dare. Qui impurias, quæ dicunt homines super tectas mittere, et aliqua futura possint eis denuntiare quod eis bona aut mala adveniant, nolite eis credere, quia soli Deo est futura præscire. Cervulos et vehiculas in Quadragesima vel aliud tempus nolite ambulare. Viri vestes femincas, feminæ vestes viriles in ipsis kalendis vel alia lusa quam plurima nolite vestire. Membra ex ligno facta in trivios et ab arboribus vel alio nolite facere, nec mittere: quia nullam sanitatem vobis possunt præstare. Luna quando obscuratur, nolite clamores emittere. Nolite criminum diabolicum credere, nec super se mittere ne præsumat. Nullus Christianorum neque ad ecclesiam, neque in domibus, neque in trivios, nec in nullo loco ballationes, cautationes, saltationes, jocus et lusa diabolica facere non præsumat. Minraritas et verba turpia et amatoria vel luxuriosa, ex ore non proferat. Omnia philacteria diabolica, et cuncta supradicta nolite ea credere, nec adoare, nec nullum honorem impendere."-Mabillon, Vet. Analect., p. 69, Ed. Fol. Venerinus Dies.-Friday in a charter of the year 1478. Veneris Dies Adoratus.-Good Friday. See Vendredi Aore. Vepres.-See Vespera. Verbenalia.-Palm Sunday.-Dresser, de Festib. Diebus, p. 55. Veris Initium (habet Dies XCI).-Feb. 7: G. 397; V. 423 ; T. 437; E. 450. Vernal Equinox.-See Equinoctium. VERONICA.-Feb. 4 (Aurea Legenda). The account of St. Veronica is curious: VOL. II. 3 D They pretend to show at Rome (says Dr. Middleton) two original impressions of our Saviour's face on two different handkerchiefs, the one sent a present from himself to St. Agbarus, prince of Edessa, who by letter had desired a picture of him; the other given by him, at the time of his execution to a saint or holy woman, Veronica, upon a handkerchief which she had lent him to wipe his face on that occasion; both which handkerchiefs are still preserved, as they affirm, and now kept with the utmost reverence; the first in St. Sylvester's church, the second in St. Peter's, where, in honor of this sacred relic, there is a fine altar built by Urban VIII, with the statue of Veronica herself, with this inscription: SALVATORIS IMAGINEM VERONICE SVDARIO EXCEPTAM VT LOCI MAJESTAS DECENTER PONT. MAX. MARMOREVM SIGNVM ET ALTARE ADDIDIT CONDITORIVM EXTRVXIT ET ORNAVIT. (Aring. Rom. Lubt.) There is in their Book of Offices a prayer ordered by the rubric to be addressed to this sacred and miraculous picture in the following terms: Conduct us, Oh, thou blessed figure, to our proper home, where we may behold the pure face of Christ.-Conform. of Anc. and Mod. Ceremonies, p. 158. But notwithstanding the authority of the Pope and his inscription, this Veronica, as one of their best authors has shown, was not any real person, but the name given to the picture itself by old writers being formed by blundering and confounding the words VERA ICON, the true image, the title inscribed or perhaps given by the first contrivers of the imposture (Iter Ital., p. 88). These stories, however fabulous and childish they appear to men of sense, are yet urged by grave authors in defence of their image worship, as certain proofs of its divine origin, and sufficient to confound all the impious opposers of it (Letter from Rome). Polydore Vergil is one of those who speak of St. Veronica as the woman to whom the handkerchief belonged (De Invent. Rerum, l. VI, c. 13, p. 403). Veronica of Milan, 1497, Jan. 13. VERONTUS.-Feb. 22: G. 400. Vertex Kalendarum, Nonarum, &c.-The same as Caput Kalendarum. "Nonarum in vertice." Jan. 5: G. 397. Vesperæ, Vespers.-A canonical hour (See Hours Canonical). For Vespers as an institution the text Ps. LIV, v. 118, is quoted: "Vespere et mane, et meridio narrabo." The first Vespers are about 4 o'clock, or later, in the afternoon, and the second, called complin, about 7 (See Completorium). "In festo annunciationis B. Mariæ Virginis, a primis vesperis usque ad secundas vesperas."-Thomas Otterbourne, Chron., p. 267. Vespres Siciliennes.-Sicilian Vespers. An historical fact rather than a date is alluded to, when French historians employ the words les Vêpres Siciliennes. In 1282, the French in Sicily were massacred in the night, without regard to age or sex, to the number of 8000; and from the hour at which the murders took place, the crime is called the Sicilian Vespers.-Hist. de France, t. VI, p. 361, et suiv.; Voltaire, t. XVII, p. 193, et suiv., et t. XXVIII, p. 368; Le P. Barre, t. VI, p. 193. Veuve de Naim, la.-Thursday, in Midlent week. VICTOR. March 29: G. 402. A martyr with Doninus, in Thessalonia, March 30.-Petr. de Natal., 1. XI, c. ult., n. 103. VICTOR.-April 27: G. 404. Another, July 1: G. 409. VICTOR, Martyr.-July 21: E. 455. This is the patron saint of Marseilles, who owes his name and station in the Roman Catholic pantheon to an inscription on a pagan altar to Julius Cæsar. St. Victor has a magnificent church dedicated to him in Marseilles. Montfaucon, after describing many other things in that city, says, we visited the church and convent of St. Victor, at which place is seen the cell in which Mary Magdalen retired to live after her arrival there. St. Victor is, however, no less a person than Julius Cæsar. The saint is said to have destroyed a dragon-Cæsar destroyed the grove in which the human sacrifices took place. The church is built on the exact spot where a Roman altar was found, with this inscription-" C. J. C. Divus victor, Locum impia superstitione cædibusque humanis inquinatum excidit, Massiliamque in potestatem P. R. redigit." This by the church is read, instead of Caius Julius Cæsar, " Carissimus Jesus Christus," and the P. R." Papali Romani," as well as Populi Romani, and thus it is seen, on the papal construction, St. Victor, the beloved of Jesus Christ, having cut down a grove profaned by an impious superstition and human sacrifices, reduced the people of Marseilles into the jurisdiction of the Pope of Rome. VICTOR.-July 24: G. 410. A soldier, martyred with two others in Spain.— Petr. de Natal., 1. VI, c. 132. VICTOR.-Oct. 3: G. 415. Others, Oct. 23, G. 416; Nov. 2, G. 417; Dec. 2 & 14, G. 419. Vigil, Vigilia.-Watch or Wake, in time, the same as Eve. Arnobius, junior, in his Comment on Ps. CIX, says the 1st begins at vespers, the 2nd at midnight, the 3rd at cock-crowing, and the 4th at matins or day-break. "Prima custodia a vespere incipit, secunda ad medium noctis attingit, tertia pullorum cantus transit, quarta vigilia matutina, quæ in ortum luminis ad impletur" (Du Cange, t. V, col. 970). Durandus enumerates the nocturnal vigils in the following order: Conticinium, the first vigil; Gallicinium, the second; Intempestum, the third, and Antelucinum, the fourth vigil. The Vigil, although, in respect of religious exercises, it was originally the night before a festival, is taken in dates for the day before, the same as eve. Athelwold was consecrated bishop of Winchester" on the vigil of St. Andrew, that day being Sunday" (Chron. Sax., an. 963). In the time of the apostles, and long afterwards, the Christians could scarcely meet together for worship, on account of the persecution to which they were subjected. Pliny, in his epistle to Trajan, bears testimony that they assembled to pray and sing hymns before day-light. When the persecution ceased, this custom continued. The nocturnal and twilight meetings were held in cemeteries, near the tombs of martyrs. Theodoretus states that Leontius, bishop of Antioch, was the first that persuaded the people to abandon the sepulchres, and hold their vigils in churches. But these nocturnal vigils, in the course of time, gave rise to the most abandoned profligacy; boys & girls, young men & women, old men & matrons, were actors in scenes, which, though sometimes described in general terms, but sufficiently particular to be understood (Polyd. Verg., l. VI, c. 4, p. 364; Hildebrand. de Dieb. Sanct., p. 73), may be left with more convenience and decency to the imagination. The Eliberitan Council (can. 35), about the end of the 3rd century, found it absolutely necessary to prohibit, with great strictness, the access of women to vigils in cemeteries, because, under pretext of devotion, many shameful things were perpetrated. In the Theodosian Code, nocturnal worship is prohibited; and Vigilantius declared open war against vigils, for which Jerome abused him without mercy, and, by a wretched pun, called him Dormitantius, because he rejected vigils (Oper., t. IV, par. 2, p. 286). At last the church was obliged to abolish them; and, about 420, they were succeeded by the fasts of vigils, which are held on the day before a greater festival, and retained the ancient name : 66 Majores nostri in templis vigilare solebant Festa recepturi. Hunc morem nova sustulit ætas. Qui præit festum, et noctem dormire cubili." Mantuan. Fast., l. I. The reformation was not complete, as we learn by the Council of Valladolid in 1322, which prohibited vigils in churches, on account of the shameful excesses committed under this pretext, and still more recently, the provincial Synod of Aquileia, in 1596, states that, though vigils were piously and laudably instituted in ancient times, they had latterly been diverted by iniquity from their right course; and that it has been heard that women ply in the churches in which vigils are held. On this account, the Synod prohibits such vigils (Sagittar., Dissert. de Natalibus Martyrum, c. 4, 8. 19, s. 21; Ed. 4to, 1578). See vol. I, p. 354. Vigilia Horemii.-The eve of St. Lawrence Aug. 29, in a contract between Gibbehard, bishop of Halberstadt, and the Abbess of Quedlinberg.—Ludwig, Reliq. MSS., t. X, p. 93. Vigilia Luminum,-The Eve of Lights, is Christmas eve, from the custom of illuminating on the night of Dec. 24. Vigilia Vigilia Nativitatis,-The Eve of the Eve of the Nativity, is the day before Christmas Eve, and another name of Prævigilia.—Haltaus, Cal. Med. Ævi, p. 17. Vignerons. Among the Fr., Friday in the second week of Lent. VINCENT, VINCENTIUS.-Jan. 22: L. 461; V. 422; E. 449. He was martyred in 304, and his bones are pretended to have been translated, in 762, to a promontory in Portugal, thence called St. Vincent. VINCENTIUS.-Aug. 21: G. 412. Eusebius, Vincentius, Peregrinus & Romanus, were martyrs at Rome in the time of Commodus, on the 8th day before the kalends of September, and perhaps this is the same Vincent (Petr. de GLOSSARY. Natal., 1. VII, c. 111). There were, besides these-1, mart., 3rd cent., June 9; 2, priest, of Lerrins, 450, May 24; 3, Vincent of Spain, a monk of the order of preachers, died 1418, Apr. 5, canonized by Calixtus III, 1455 (Hospin. de Fest., fo. 77 b.); 4, Vincent de Paul, 1660, July 19. VIRGILIUS.-Nov. 27. Bishop of Saltzburg, 784, canonized by Gregory IX in 1233.-Verif. des Dates, t. III, p. 362. Virgo. The sun's entry into this sign, Aug. 18: G. 411; V. 428; T. 442. Visitatio Occisorum a Tartaris Sendomiriæ.-June 2, instituted by Alexander IV, in commemoration of the Christians who were slain by the Tartars in 1260.-Cromer. de Reb. Polon., l. IX; Hospin. de Fest. Christ., fo. 17 b, & fo. 87 b. Visitation of our Lady.-July 2. See Festum Visitationis. Vitalis of Milan, refusing to sacrifice to the gods, was cast into a pit at Ravenna, and crushed with earth and stones, about A. D. 50 (Petr. de Natal., l. IV, c. 95). Date of a letter to Henry V: "Writen atte Swines atte departyng of the Emprer goynge in to Beheme in the feste of seyn Vitale martir."-Ellis, Orig. Lett., v. I, p. 79. VITALIS.-Nov. 3: G. 417-Nov. 4, according to Petr. de Natal., 1. X, c. 18. A martyr in 304. VITALIS.-Oct. 24: G. 416. VITUS, MODESTUS & CRESCENTIA.-June 15: G. 407; V. 427; E. 454. Martyrs in Sicily, under Dioclesian; the first was a boy, and the second his tutor.-Petr. de Natal., 1. V, c. 118. Vocati ad Nuptias.-See Dominica de Vocatis. Vocem Jucunditatis annunciate.-Introit and name of the 5th Sunday after Easter, from Isa., c. 64: "Die Lunæ post vocem jucunditatis" (D'Achery, Spicil., t. X, p. 286). In the letter of the cardinals, in the reign of Henry II, it is introduced more fully: "Ad quam (civitatem) dominica qua cantatur vocem jucunditatis, convenimus cum multis personis."-Rog. de Hoveden, p. 530. See Script. post Bed., t. I, p. 170; Baring., Clav. Dipl., XIII, p. 492; LX, p. 533, &c. VOLENTYN.-Valentine. Paston Letters, v. IV, p. 248. Vtaues seint Esteuene.-Jan. 2: L. 461-and so throughout this kalendar. Vyle.-For Veille, in our Fr. records, as in the date of a letter to a lady, June 23, 1298: "Done dens les quatre mers de Engleterre la vyle de la seynt Johan le Baptist le aan du regne le Roy Edward fiz le Roy Henry vint et setime."-Arundel MS., 220, fo. 303 b. Wake.-An old Saxon & English word for vigil or eve, and derived from pacan, or pacian, to wake or watch, as vigil is from vigilare, to wake or watch. There is this difference between vigil and wake-that the former precedes any greater festival, but the latter is confined to the festival of the dedication of a church, the church haliday or holiday (see vol. I, p. 354). We have the following passage in a Saxon sermon," De Dedicatione Ecclesiæ," relating to the wake :-Ne gebyɲeð ær cynican ænig þing to donne butan god to heɲianne hine to gebiddanne. Pa þam þonne pirodlice pe |