Ritual. Ritualism.--By _ritual_ is meant the ceremonial part of Religion; the name is also applied to the book in which the Rites and Ceremonies are set forth. By _ritualism_ is meant the system of ritual or prescribed form of religious worship. Therefore, these words meaning what they do are to be lifted up out of all party spirit and are to be regarded as expressive of the Church's real system of worship. Loyalty to the Prayer-book demands obedience to the rubrics on the part of both minister and people. Then it is well to remember that when the Prayer-book was first set forth in 1549, the principal change was that the services should be said in English; the ritual remained the same. This explains the origin of many practices which now prevail in the Church as {233} a matter of course, such as kneeling, bowing at the Name of Jesus, the use of vestments, etc. These are simply what had been in use in the early Church, and the use of the Prayer-book presupposes them all. It is well, also, to observe that Ritualism properly considered, emphasizes the continuity of the Church before and after the Reformation, and is a standing protest against the false idea that the Episcopal Church was founded by Henry the Eighth, or that it is a mere schism from the Church of Rome. (See ORNAMENTS; also UNDIVIDED CHURCH, THE.) Rochet.--A Bishop's vestment, and may be described as a long narrow surplice or alb which he wears under the CHIMERE (which see). Rogation Days.--The Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before Ascension Day. They are days of abstinence preparatory to the great Feast of the Ascension. They are so called from the Latin word _rogare_, meaning to ask, and coming as they do in the early part of the year, it was customary on these days to ask God's blessing on the fruits of the earth. So that the Rogation Days bear the same relation to the plowing and sowing that Thanksgiving Day bears to the harvest. Two special prayers for this purpose, entitled "For Fruitful Seasons,--To be used on Rogation Sunday and the Rogation Days," were introduced into the American Prayer-book at its last revision in 1892. The Rogation Days were originated about the middle of the Fifth Century by Mamercus, Bishop of Vienne in Gaul, on the occasion of a great calamity that threatened his Diocese; whence arose the custom of saying the Litany and certain Psalms such as 103d {234} and 104th, during perambulations of parishes. This method of celebrating the Rogation Days still prevails in many parishes in England. Rogation Sunday.--The Fifth Sunday after Easter, being the Sunday next before the Rogation Days and Ascension Day is so called, and no doubt from the words with which the Gospel for the day begins, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall _ask_ the Father in My Name, He will give it you." (See ROGATION DAYS.)