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Peccatrix Pœnitentialis.-Thursday in Passion Week. Pentecost. This word sometimes, and particularly among the Greeks, includes all the period from Easter to Whitsunday-with us, it is this day and the week following. Whitsuntide, the Pentecost of the ancients, totally differed from the present. They called those fifty continuous days, from Easter to Pentecost Day, both inclusive, by the name of Pentecost (Tertull. de Idolat.) It is on this account that Pentecost admitted the term Pascha Annotina, or Annotinum, an anniversary of the Easter of the year before, which of course would be inapplicable, if Pentecost had no more latitude than it has at present. St. Ambrose says that these 50 days, as they are called, were observed like Sundays (Serm. 51). Chrysostom calls them days of indulgence, in which the body should be refreshed, lest the soul be corrupted. M. Simon, in the supplement to his Ceremonies of the Jews, compares the Christian Pentecost with that of the Jews; and says that, as it was on this day that God gave the Law to the Israelites on Mount Sinai, which became all on fire, so the Apostles received the new Law on the same day, being filled with the Holy Ghost, which descended on them with a great noise, as noted in the Acts of the Apostles. He adds, that Pentecost was principally instituted to honor the day on which the new law was impressed by the Holy Ghost on the hearts of the Apostles, in imitation of the law given to Moses the same day on the tables of stone (Moreri, Dict. Hist., t. I, P, p. 120). Polydore Vergil mentions, that there were some who thought that Pentecost was not a feast among the Christians in the age of the Apostles (De Invent., l. VI, c. 8, p. 377). The Eliberitan Council, held about 300, by can. 43 commands, that those who do not celebrate it shall be punished for a new heresy. The most general meaning affixed to Pentecost is, that Whitsunday is the first day it is mentioned in the Saxon Chronicle, that in the year 1104, the nones of June was the first day of Pentecost. In that year, the golden number was III, the dominical letter, B, Easter Day, April 17, and Whitsunday, June 5, or the nones of June. Pentecost Day, Pentecostinas Day, and Pentecostmas Week, are terms of rather frequent recurrence in the Chronicle. "Hoc anno (1232) XXI die Maii fuit terræ motus ante Pentecosten, ac eciam vigilia Pentecostes in aurora fuit magnus terræ motus per totam Angliam" (Wilh. Wyrcest., Annal., p. 441). "The prince shall be create at Wyndesour uppon Pentecost Sunday (Paston Letters, v. I, p. 76). Sir John Fenn remarks upon this letter, that "the creation of Edward, son of Henry VI, to the principality of Wales, is fixed by some of our historians to the year 1454, and by others to that of 1457. This letter confirms it to have been in the former year, for in that year Pentecost, or Whitsunday, fell on the 9th June; and we are here told that the ceremony shall take place on Pentecost Sunday, that is, the next day. Pentecoste Collectorum.-The Pentecost of the Collectors. This date occurs in the charter of Thorold, on the foundation of Spalding, as a cell to the monastery of Croyland: "In die sancto Pentecostes collectorum anno Domini Incarnationis MLI" (Monast. Anglic., t. II, p. 119). Pentecost was a sort of impost or tribute, as well as a festival, and collector, which was but seldom used by the best Roman authors, was one who levied such imposts; if this be the meaning of the date, it may refer to some local custom in Saxon times, but in other respects it was unnecessary; for the addition of sanctus

dies points to Whitsunday. Perhaps collectorum should be collectarum, which seems to be equally unnecessary.

Pentecostes Media.-Wednesday of Pentecost; among the Latins, it is also Wednesday in the week after Whitsunday, and Wednesday in the octaves of Pentecost. The Mesopentecost of the Greek ch.

Pentecostes Prima.-The first day of Pentecost, May 15: T. 439. What this may be is not very clear; the first day on which Pentecost can fall is May 10, and the last, June 13. The Computus of this Kalendar gives the following rule for finding Pentecost: "De Pentecosten.-Post .v. idus mai ubi lunam .IIII. inueneris ibi fac terminum pentecosten" (Fo. 13)-Make the term of Pentecost where you find the moon 4 days old after May 11. To exemplify this, take the year 1051, in the date of the charter of Thorold (see (Pentecoste Collectorum). The golden number of that year is VII, which is opposite the ides of May, or May 15 in the lunar kalendar; the moon was four days old on May 19, and that was the Whitsunday of 1154; for Easter Day fell on March 31. Penthecost.-Pentecost, in a letter of secret instructions from Government, in 1352, for the reception and treatment of David de Bruys: "La Penthecost prochein a venir."-Rymer, Fader., t. III, p. 242.

Penthesis.-The Purification, Feb. 2 among the Greeks.

Penult Day. The last day but one. Thomas, abbot of Kelso, dates a letter in 1523—“ At Kelsoo the penult day off Februar.-Duo Rer. Angl. Script., t. II, p. 592.

Perdon Sonday.-Pardon Sunday. "I prey yow be redy w' all the Accomptanttys belongyng to my Lady at the ferthest w'in viij dayes next aftyr perdon sonday" (Paston Letters, v. II, p. 100). This letter was written 20th September, 1472. If Pardon Sunday be the Dominica Indulgentiæ of the Latin writers, the accounts were to be prepared by April 11, 1473, allowing more than 6 months. But there were stated times for the granting of indulgences, besides this Palm Sunday, or Sunday of Indulgence. A list of these seasons of indulgence is contained under Pardon Tyme, and if it explain the Perdon Sonday, it fell within the 7th class, and, consequently, the account was to be returned by Monday, October 5, following the date of the latter, so that the lady allowed only a fortnight for the preparation. Perdu Dimange (le).-The Lost or Forlorn Sunday, was Septuagesima S., because it had no distinctive name, Septuagesima denoting it merely as the 70th day before Easter.

Pere entrant Aoust.-Peter entering August, that is, August 1, the feast of St. Peter ad Vincula, or in the Gule of August. "Le Pere entrant Aoust." -Rymer, Fader., t. I, p. 561.

PEREGRINE, PEREGRINUS.-May 16: G. 405. A priest sent by St. Sixtus from Rome to France, where he restored Christianity, and was martyred with others on his return to Rome, in 330.-Petr. de Natal., l. V, c. 5; Hospin. de Fest., fo. 86.

PERENELE, Virgin & Martyr.-May 31: L. 465. The French name of Petronella, or Petronilla.

PERPETUA.-March 7: G. 401. With Felicitas, V. 424; T. 417. The former is said to have suffered on this day in 205, and the latter in 203.

Po

trus de Natalibus says Perpetua, Felicitas & companions, were martyrs of the nones of March, under Valerian.-Cat. Sanct., l. III, c. 182. Pervigilia. In classical language, a perpetual watch; but our Latinists mean, with respect to the day, the same as eve or vigil, with, perhaps, a little more strictness in the observance.

PETER ad Vincula.-August 1. St. Peter's Chains, in the Laity's Directory (see Ad Vincula S. PETRI). Respecting the origin of this festival, there is a great diversity of opinion. Durandus thinks it an imitation of the festival celebrated by the Egyptians, in honor of Augustus Cæsar. He says that Theodosia, the consort of Theodosius II, on her way to Jerusalem, saw the 1st of August celebrated at Alexandria, in honor of Augustus Cæsar, and that she was sorely grieved that such great honor should be thrown away on a "damned" pagan. On arriving at Jerusalem, she obtained the very chains with which Herod bound St. Peter, and carried them to Rome. Theodosius erected the church of St. Peter, placed the chains in it, and consecrated it on the 1st of August, in 439 or 440 (Durand. de Rat. Div. Off., 1. VII, c. 19). But Theodosius had no other wife than Eudocia, nor is there any mention of the Alexandrian festival. Bale says that Sixtus consecrated the chains at Eudocia's request, and confirmed the annual festival (Cent. 1, c. 36; see Hospinian, de Festis, fo. 124 b.) Polydore Vergil says that it was instituted by Sylvester, who sat from 314 to 335, at the request of Constantine, in memory of the apostle's sufferings for religion (De Invent., 1. VI, c. 8, p. 378). One thing appears very certain-a count in the service of the emperor Otho, in 900, was delivered, by kissing the chains, from a devil by whom he was possessed, in consequence of which they were worshipped with more profound veneration than ever (Hospin., ib.) Since then, they seem to have been dissolved in kisses, for the author of the Stacyonys of Rome makes no mention of them in his long account of St. Peter's, that "fayre mynstyr," in which, he says—

"Abouene pe grete as þ" shalt gone

Standeth a chapell hy'self alone,

In þe whych song Peter h' fyrst masse
As þe Romane sayn more & lasse."

Cott. MS., Calig., A. II, fo. 81.

PETER and PAUL, Apostles.-June 29: G. 408; V. 427; T. 440; E. 454. The will of Henry III is dated on this day: "Die Martis proximo post festum Apostolorum Petri & Pauli, anno Gratiæ millesimo ducentisimo quinquagesimo tercio" (Rymer, Fæder., t. I, p. ult). It is sometimes called St. Peter's day only: "On Monday following, being St. Peter's day, the 29th of June"-the Lord Sanquire was hanged at Westminster (Cobbett's State Trials, v. II, p. 754.) It is said to have been instituted in 505, “in imitation of the Heathens."-Hospin. de Fest., fo. 15 b.

PETER, with MARCELLINUS.—June 2: G. 407; V. 427; T. 440; E. 454. The same, Nov. 27; G. 418.

PETER in Gula Augusti.-Aug. 1. See Gula Augusti.

PETER of Exeter, feast of relics in the church of.-May 26: E. 453.

PETER,-Nov. 25: G. 418. Others have, Nov. 26 (Petr. de Natal., 1. X,

c. 109), a bishop of Alexandria, martyred in 311. There were very many saints and martyrs of this name; the principal were: 1. Peter, Andrew, and companions, 250, May 15; 2. Peter Balsam, Jan. 3; 3. the Exorcist, 304, June 2; 4. bishop of Sebaste, 380, Jan. 9; 5. P. Chrystologus, 450, Dec. 2 or 4; 6. abbot of Canterbury, drowned in 608, Jan. 6; 7. P. de Damian, cardinal bp., 1072, Feb. 23; 8. P. de Policastro, 1123, March 4; 9. abbot of Cluny, 1156, Dec. 25; 10. archbp. of Tarentaise or Montiers, 1174, May 8; 11. P. Gonzales, 1246, Apr. 15; 12. P. martyr, 1252, Apr. 29; 13. P. de Nolasco, 1258, Jan. 31; 14. P. Celestine, pope, 1294, May 19; 15. P. Paschal, 1300, Dec. 6; 16. P. of Luxemburg, cardinal, 1387, July 5; 17. P. of Pisa, 1435, June 1; 18. P. Regulati, 1456, May 13; 19. P. of Alcantara, 1562, Oct. 19. PETER of Milan.-April 29. This blessed saint and martyr, the 12th in the preceding catalogue, deserves a separate notice, though, perhaps, not much more virtuous than the multitude of the same name and canonized dignity. He was also called Peter of Verona, and was of the order of preachers: his character is that of a man most thirsty of Christian blood-a preacher of the cross, and a most virulent, violent, and cruel inquisitor. When in 1252, he set out on a mission of bloodshed and butchery, he was fortunately slain by a nobleman between Milan and Como, on the 7th April; but because that day frequently falls in Easter, Innocent IV, who canonized him, ordained his festival to be celebrated on the third day before the kalends of May.-Surius ap. Hospin. de Fest., fo. 81.

PETER & POWLE day.-The apostles Peter and Paul, June 29.
Stacyonys of Rome:-

"On seynt Pet' Powle day

þt mynster was halowed as I say."

Petite Carême (la).-The feast of St. Martin.
Petits Rois (les).-The 28 days from the
Epiphany.

In the

Cott. MS., Cal. A. II, fo. 81 b.

See Advent.

Nativity to the octave of the

PETROC, PETROCUS.-June 4: V. 427; E. 454. abbot, 6th cent.

PETRONELLA, PETRONILLA.-May 31: G. 406.

Petrocius or Perrouse, an

She is fabled to be the

daughter of St. Peter, and it is said that she was cured of a fever, at Rome, through the intercession of the disciples with her father. On this account she is invoked in fevers (Hospin. de Fest., fo. 77b). "11 kal. Jun. Natalis Sanctæ Petronillæ virginis" (Kal. Arras, 826). S'ca Perɲonellan rid dære fæmnan. heo pær r'ce Pernes dohrer dana aportola aloner. Feast of St. Petronella the Virgin. She was daughter of St. Peter, the chief of the apostles (Menol. Sax.) The festival occurs in Bede's Martyrology, but, as remarked by Dr. Ingram, her name does not appear in our Latin historians. In the Chronicle, St. Petronella's mass day appears as a date: "on r'ce Perɲonella mærre dæg.-Ann. 1070, or 1077. Phagiphania. The Epiphany, because, on a doubtful authority, it is believed that it was on this day that our Lord fed the 5000 with five loaves and fishes.-Hosp. de Fest. Christ., fo. 33 b.

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