“Now, the Christians in most of the countries of Europe looked upon the bishop or pope of Rome with the same reverence that the Jews paid to their high-priest, and considered the chief church of Rome as holy as the old Temple of Jerusalem. Of course, it was impossible for many of them to go to Rome every year to worship there; but every one who could possibly afford it went thither once in his life, and carried offerings in money, or jewels, or curious things, such as he could afford. Noblemen and kings gave great estates to the church; and for some hundreds of years, the popes pretended to have authority over all kings and princes. During that period, the visitors to Rome were not to be counted. The ceremonies observed during the whole week before Easter attracted crowds from all countries. The churches were decorated with costly hangings of tapestry, or gold and silver cloth, or silk and velvet. And on Palm Sunday, in the church where the pope himself sung the service, the altar was covered and ornamented with palm branches. “At a particular part of the forenoon prayer, the pope pronounced a blessing over the palms, which were the signs of the victory of Christianity over the heathen; and then the palms were distributed to the cardinals, the bishops, the princes, and, in short, to as many persons as they would serve.” “What was that for?” interrupted Mary. “Such of the persons receiving them, as had come on a pilgrimage from a distant country to Rome, carried these palms home, as a sign that they had accomplished their undertaking, and called themselves palmers in consequence. They, and all who had palms from the church, preserved them carefully, as they believed that the blessing pronounced over them by the pope would extend to the house in which they were kept.” “Now, papa, tell us why we call willows palms, and gather them for Palm Sunday.”