Note 147 — Chapter XVI · THE WOLF IN THE FOLD.

When the Vatican cemetery was explored, in 1571, there were found in tombs two small square golden boxes, with a ring at the top of the lid. These very ancient sacred vessels are considered by Bottari to have been used for carrying the Blessed Eucharist round the neck (Roma Subterranea, tom. i. fig. 11); and Pellicia confirms this by many arguments (Christianæ Eccl. Politia, tom. iii. p. 20).