Aquamanile

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Is the basin used for the washing of the hands of the celebrant in the liturgy. The aquamanile with the urceus are the basin and ewer of the sacred ceremony. In the work called the Canons of the Fourth Council of Carthage, it is laid down that a subdeacon should receive at his ordination, from the hands of the archdeacon, an aquamanile- (corruptly written aqua et mantile) as one of the emblems of his office. These direction's are repeated verbatim in' the office for the ordination of a subdeacon in the Gregorian sacramentary. In the Greek office, the word used in the same connection perhaps includes both urceus and aquamanile. In the Ordo Romanus, the acolytes are directed to carry an aquamanus (among other things) after the pope in the. great procession of Easter-day. Aquamanilia of great splendor are frequently mentioned in ancient records. Desiderius of Auxerre is said to have given to his Church one "weighing two pounds and ten ounces, having in the centre a wreath of lilies," etc. Brunhilda, queen of the Franks, offered, through the same Desiderius, to the Church of St. Germanus one " weighing three pounds and nine ounces, having in the centre Neptune with his trident." (See Urceus).