38. The sacristy, or place where the holy vessels are deposited, or where the priest putteth on his robes, is the womb of the Blessed Mary, where Christ put on his robes of humanity. The priest, having robed himself, cometh forth into the public view, because Christ, having come from the womb of the Virgin, proceeded forth into the world. The bishop's throne in the church is higher than the rest. 39. Near to the altar, which signifieth Christ, is placed the piscina, or lavacrum, that is, the pity of Christ, in which the priest washeth his hands, thereby denoting that by baptism and penitence we are purged from the filth of sin: which is drawn from the Old Testament. For he saith in Exodus, 'And Moses made a laver of brass, with his basin, in the which Aaron the priest and his sons should wash, before they went up to the altar, that they might offer an offering. [Footnote 174] [Footnote 174: Exodus xxxviii, 8.] {28} 40. The lamp in the church is Christ: as He saith, 'I am the light of the world'; [Footnote 175] and again, 'That was the true light.' [Footnote 176] 'Or the light in a church may denote the apostles and other doctors, by whose doctrine the Church is enlightened, as the sun and moon: concerning whom saith the Lord, 'Ye are the light of the world: [Footnote 177] that is, an example of good works. Wherefore He saith to them in His admonitions, 'Let your light shine before men.' [Footnote 178] But the Church is enlightened by the precepts of the Lord; wherefore it saith in the before-quoted place, 'Speak unto the sons of Aaron that they offer oil-olive most pure, that the lamp may burn continually in the tabernacle of the testimony.' [Footnote 179] Moses made also seven lights, which are the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost: for they in the darkness of this world shine forth with brightness: and they rest in candlesticks, because in Christ rested 'the spirit of wisdom and knowledge, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of learning and piety, the spirit of the fear of the Lord, by which He preached wisdom to the captives.' [Footnote 180] The number of lights showeth the number of graces in the faithful. [Footnote 175: S. John viii, 12.] [Footnote 176: S. John i, 6.] [Footnote 177: S. Matthew v, 14.] [Footnote 178: S. Matthew v, 16.] [Footnote 179: Lev. xxiv, 2.] [Footnote 180: Isaiah lxi, i.]