VESPERS, Sicilian, a term applied to the massacre of the French residents in Sicily by the natives on Easter-day, 1282. The tyranny of the French had become intolerable to the Sicilians, and a plot was formed for their extermination. It was arranged that the massacre should begin at the tolling of the bell for evening vespers, and the work was so thoroughly done that very few of the French escaped. Neither rank, age, nor sex received any quarter. It is said that pope Nicholas III was made acquainted with fchis plot, but died before its execution.
Vespillones were the undertakers or gravedig- gers who formed one class of subordinate ser\-ants of tiie early Church, and were so calleil probably from their carrying out the dead in the night. Some trace the word to vesperus, the evening.
Vessels, Sacred, of the A Itar, is a general name for the vessels used in the sacramental and other rites of the Church. These are more numerous in the ritual- istic churches than in others, and anciently were held very sacred. By the Council of Laodicea, subdeacons were forbidden to handle the plate or to enter the sacris- ty ; by the second Council of Rome, a reader or osliarius received a like restriction ; and by the Council of Agde, all not in orders were so prohibited. The jirincipal vessels and appertaining articles are the following: amjiiilla, or vessel for holding consecrated oil, or the large flagon used for a cruet in the holy sacrament; ceiii<er, OT vessel for holding burning incense; chalice. the vessel for the sacramental wine; ciborium, either a canopy over the altar or a box or vessel to contain the bread in the celebration of the eucharist , corporal, a
square piece of cloth for holding the body of Christ at conununion; coluinba, a dove-shaped vessel to contain the eucharist suspended over the allar by a chain fmui the roof; criivts, two small flagons for containing the wine and water at holy comnuniiou; holy-irater pot, a vat or pot to hold the holy water; monstrance, a trans- parent vessel for showing the eucharist in the form of bread to the people ; paten, the plate on which the bread is placed at holy communion ; pall, a covering for the chalice in certain portions of the mass; pnrijica- tor, a piece of lawn or tine linen for cleansing the chalice and paten; py.r, a box or vessel in which to preserve the eucharist, in the form of bread, for the sick and oth- er communicants who cannot be present in the ehurcli ; pyx-cloth, a cloth or veil for covering the pyx ; thurible, a vessel in which incense is burned. See each word in its place. See also Oknajients, Ecclesiastical.
VESSELS FOR Holy Oil. These, in niediieval churches, were arranged like three towers around a central crown-topped s]iire, with which they were con- nected. Each contained a small piiial, which could l)e detached when wanted, and a spoon. One of these phials held the oil for baptism ; a second, chrism for confirma- tion ; and a third, oil for the sick. They were made of copper or silver gilt. The ampulla, for chrism, was someiimes made of ivory and crystal, to distinguish it from the vessels containing the oils. See Oil.
Vesta, an ancient Latin divinity, the fire-goddess, identical with the Greek Hestia. She was the embodi- ment of the idea that the State was the great family, and occupied a prominent rank among the Pemites, or liouse- hold gods, on which ac- count she was calKd ?«((/?/•, or mother. Each conununity had its pub- lic altar to Vesta, the central one for the whole Latin people be- ing at Lanuvium, about twenty miles from li'onie, on the Appian Way, where the Roman con- sids and other officers ofTered sacrifices on en- tering upon their of- fices. The Vesta of Rome had her temjjle in the Forum, near that of the Penates, where she was served by her own priestesses the Ves- tals (q. v.), an<l where was deposited the cel- ebrated Palladium, or statue of Pallas, the pledge of the safety of the empire. The fire Continually burned upon the hearth in the Temple of Vesta, and was annually renewed on IMarch 1, and at the same time was renewed the laurel-tree which shaded her hearth. The statues of Vesta before which the devout Romans daily sacri- ficed were placed in front of the doors of their houses, which, according to some, were hence called vestibules. An oath in her name was considered most sacred and inviolable. Sec Vkstalia ; Vestals. Vestal Virgins. See Vkstals. Vestalia, an annual festival, held on June 9 by the ancient L'omans, in honor of Vesta (q. v.), on the occa- sion of which none but women walked to the temple of the goddess, and that with bare f^-t.
Vestals, in the Roman religion. These maiden priestesses of Vesta (i^. v.) were helil in high esteem and
F'iiiuie of Vesta.
VESTIBULE
767
VESTxMENTS
enjtwed great privileges. They possessed, for instance, the right to make a testament as soon as they stepped into the service of the goddess (they were recpiired to be ten years old upon entrance). They were further allowed a lictor, to announce their coming; and they had the rigVit of pardoning a condemned criminal when they met him. They also sat in seats of honor at the theatre. But they were also subject to very strict ob- servances, and incurred frightful punishments in case of any failure. The conditions of their acceptance were: they and their parents must be free-born; botli par- ents were recjuired to be living and residing in Italy, and carrying on an honoral)le business. When an election was necessary, twenty girls were selected, who cast lots in public meetings. But this was not necessary when a father lawfulh- offered, of his own free will and accord, his daughter free from all bodi- ly imperfections. The number of Vestals was at Hrst two, afterwards four, and from Servius Tullius's time six. Ten years long they were to learn the service, ten years they were obliged to serve, and ten years they were required to teach tlie probationers. After the expiration of this term of years they were permit- ted to marry, but this was not looked upon as honora- ble. Their duties were, the performance of the sacri- fices, care of the sacre<l vestibules, preservation of the eternal tire, and the strictest virtues, especially chastity. If the fire became extinguished, the guilty one was beaten with switches; if one was found unchaste, she was buried alive. Such an occurrence was looked upon as a dreadful sign of tlie wrath of the gods, and the whole city went into mourning. The clothing of the Vestals was composed of a long white dress, a priestly fillet, and a veil; still it was not forbidden them to adorn themselves.