[Footnote 14: "This custom prevailed universally in the Christian church from the earliest period" Palmer Orig. Liturg. vol. 2, p. 75.] [Footnote 15: As the ancient Roman houses had an _impluvium_ in the midst of the _atrium_, so in the _atria_ annexed to the Christian churches was one or more fountains (Eus. Eccl. Hist. l. X, c. 4) and sometimes a well or cistern. In these the faithful used to wash their hands (Tertull. De orat. Sec., De lavat. man.) Thus in the atrium of St. Paul's basilica there was a cantharus, restored by Pope Leo I, of which the saint writes thus to Ennodius; Quisque suis meritis veneranda sacraria Pauli Ingrederis, supplex ablue fonte manus. The _cantharus_ is mentioned by Virgil Eclog. VI, 21. Et gravis adtrita pendebat cantharus ansa. A large vessel of this description may be seen in the _cortili_ of S. Cecilia and SS. Apostoli at Rome. It used to be blessed on the vigil or festival of the Epiphany, as it is now in the Greek and even the Roman church. When churches were built without _atria_, a vessel of blessed water was placed inside the church: in some of the older churches there is even a well. See Nibby, _Dissert. sulla forma, etc. delle antiche chiese_.] [Footnote 16: See Le Brun tom. IV, diss. 15. Super usu recitandi silentio missae partem etc. This custom was connected with the discipline of secrecy. The scripture itself does not mention what words Christ used, when He "gave thanks", before He pronounced the words of consecration; and the early church imitated this reserve. Anciently curtains concealed the altar, during the most solemn part of mass, as now in some Oriental churches. St. John Chrysostom (Hom. 3, in Ep. ad Ephes.) mentions this custom; and traces of it still remain at St. Clement's church in Rome.]