_Scala Coeli_ (Vol. i., pp. 366. 402. 455.).--Maundrell mentions, "at
the coming out of Pilate's house, a descent, where was anciently the
_Scala Sancta_." (_Journey from Aleppo to Jerusalem_, p. 107.) This holy
or heavenly stair was that by which the Redeemer was led down, by order
of Pilate, according to the legend, and afterwards was, among other
relics, carried to Rome. It is now in the Church of St. John Lateran,
whither it is said to have been brought by St. Helena from Jerusalem.
Pope Alexander Vl., and his successor Julius, granted to the Chapel of
St. Mary built by King Henry VII., in Westminster Abbey--
"Easdem indulgencias et peccatorum remissiones ... quas
Celebrantes pro Defunctis in Capellâ _Scala Coeli_ nuncupatâ in
Ecclesiâ Trium Fontium extra muros Urbis Cisterciensis Ordinis
... consequuntur."
This indulgence of Pope Julius was dated in the year 1504; and its
intention of drawing thither pilgrims and offerings was fully realised,
we may believe: for in the year 1519 we find the brotherhood of St. Mary
of Rouncevall by Charing Cross paying:--
"To the keper of Scala Celi in the Abby ... vjd."
(See Rymer's _Foedera_, tom. v. pt. iv.; and Dugdale's _Monasticon_,
vol. i. p. 320.)
MACKENZIE WALCOTT, M.A. Oxon.
_Sitting during the Lessons_ (Vol. ii., p. 46.).--With respect to L.'s
Query respecting sitting during the Lessons, I can venture no remarks;
but the custom of standing during the reading of the Gospel is very
ancient. In the mass of St. Chrysostom the priest exclaims, "Stand up,
let us hear the holy Gospel." (Goar, _Rituale Græcorum_, p. 69.) The
same custom appears in the Latin Liturgy of St. Basil:--"Cumque
interpres Evangelii dicit 'State cum timore Dei' convertitur Sacerdos ad
occidentem," etc. (_Renaudot_, vol. i. p. 7. Vide also "Liturgy of St.
Mark," _Ren_. vol. i. p. 126.) The edition of Renaudot's _Liturgies_ is
the reprint in 1847.
N.E.R. (a subscriber).
_Sitting during the Lessons._--There is no doubt, I believe, that in
former times the people stood when the minister read the Lessons, to
show their reverence. It is recorded in Nehemiah, viii. 5.:
"And Ezra opened the Book in the sight of all the people (for he
was above all the people), and when he opened it all the people
_stood_ up."
Why this practice should have been altered, or why our Rubric should be
silent on this head, does not appear quite clear, though I find in
Wheatley (_On the Book of Common Prayer_, chap. vi. sec. vi.) that which
seems to me to be a very sufficient reason, if not for the sitting
during the Lessons, certainly for the standing during the reading of the
Gospel, and sitting during the Epistle:--
"In St. Augustine's time the people always stood when the
lessons were read, to show their reverence to God's holy word:
but afterwards, when this was thought too great a burden, they
were allowed to sit down at the lessons, and were only obliged
to _stand_ at the reading of the Gospel; which always contains
something that Our Lord did speak, or suffered in His own
person. By which gesture they showed they had a greater respect
to the Son of God himself than they had to any other inspired
person, though speaking the word of God, and by God's
authority."