The octave which belongs to the chief festivals has its origin in Judaism, for the Jews prolonged for eight days the festivals which commemorated the two chief religious and political events in their history—the Exodus from Egypt or the Passover, and the Dedication of the Temple.[31] With regard to the Passover, there was another reason for prolonging the feast during eight days. Since many Jews, after the Exile, remained scattered throughout various countries, there was a risk, owing to the uncertain character of the Jewish Calendar, that the correct date of the feast might not be known to all. In order to avoid the misfortune of celebrating the feast on a wrong day, the feast was prolonged for eight days, one of which would certainly be the right day. The first, second, seventh, and last days were especially regarded as festivals.[32] Then Pentecost and Christmas were also observed with an octave, and so matters remained for a long period. It was owing to the influence which the Franciscan Order exerted in liturgical affairs that the number of octaves was increased. The Franciscans provided an inordinate number of festivals with octaves in their Breviary, and observed each day of the octave with the rite of a _festum duplex_. In this way a number of saints’ festivals, in addition to the feasts of our Lord, were provided with octaves. According to the ancient Roman rite, the observance of the octave consisted merely in a simple commemoration of the festival inserted in the office on the eighth day, without taking any notice of the festival on the intervening six days.[33] A single example of this ancient custom still exists in the Breviary in the _festum S. Agnetis secundo_. Formerly saints’ festivals were not distinguished from one another in rank, but all were kept with the rite of a _festum simplex_, as it is now called, and also were provided with one lection only, as the Breviary developed. An alteration in this respect was introduced by Gregory VII., who appointed that the commemoration of Popes who were also martyrs should be celebrated as _festa duplicia_.[34] Next, Boniface VIII., in 1298, ordered that the feasts of the Apostles, Evangelists, and four great doctors of the Western Church should be advanced to the same rank.[35] The Franciscans brought about a complete revolution by celebrating in their Breviary and in their churches all festivals of the saints as _duplicia_, and by adding a number of new saints.[36] Pius V. reduced the rank of many feasts, but over and above the _duplicia_ he permitted doubles of the first and second class. To the ordinary _duplex_, or _duplex simpliciter per annum_, Clement VIII. added yet another species, the _duplex majus_.[37] Thus, according to the present regulations, feasts are ranked either as _simplex_, _semiduplex_, _duplex_, _majus_, _duplex II._ and _I. classis_.[38] 4. _The Gradual Increase of Festivals. Their Decrease in the Last Three Centuries. The Present Position_