Chapter XXVI: Appendix: A

CHANCELS

'The temple of old was divided into two parts by a veil hung in the middle thereof. The first part was called the Holy Place, but the inner part the Holy of Holies. Whatever part then of the office of the Mass cometh before the secret [Footnote 602] is performed as it were in the outer place: but the secret itself within the Holy of Holies. There were in the Holy of Holies the altar of incense, the ark of the testimony, the mercy-seat above the ark, and over this two cherubims of glory with their faces looking towards each other. Herein the high priest entered alone once in the year, having the names of the patriarchs written upon the breastplate of judgment and the shoulderplates, and bearing a censer of burning coals and blood, and incense, which with prayer he placed in the thurible until the cloud of incense covered him. [Footnote 603]

[Footnote 602: After the _Sanctus_, which, as we shall find, was
performed with the full choir and the accompaniment of organs, came
the _secret_, which embraced the whole _Canon of the Mass_,
performed by the celebrant alone, and the celebration of the Holy
Eucharist. 'It is called the secret because these things be hidden
from us, since the nature of man can in no wise fully comprehend so
great a mystery: for the denoting of which it is rightly performed
secretly. To signify the same also, the priest when entering upon
the secret is veiled as it were with the side curtains.' See other
mystical reasons adduced in the remainder of this passage, Book IV,