Note 32 — CHAP. II.
Reading edition
Footnote 32:
(return)
In times of schism caused by antipopes it was a practice of the utmost importance. Thus we read in Baronius' Annals A.D. 1160, that when the antipope Cardinal Octavianus, who assumed the name of Victor, had been illegitimately elected, the chapter of St. Peter's came immediately to the feet of the said Pope Victor, and obeyed "obedivit" and the clergy and people paid due reverence to him, and a great multitude in like manner obeyed: "the rectors also came to his feet, and paid obedience and reverence". Then follows a long list of the clergy of various Roman churches, all of whom it is said that they obeyed. Thus,
"The Lateran prior and his canons obeyed. The clergy of the patriarchal church of S. Mary Major's obeyed etc."
This obedience was evidently an external sign of their acknowledging Victor as Pope in place of Alexander, the legitimate pontiff. Anciently the Pope received the homage of the deacons in the sacristy; they afterwards went out of the sacristy to put on their dalmatics. Cancellieri de Secretariis T.I. In the sacristy the Pope gave the peace to the Bishops, Cardinals, Prefect, Senator, and other lay princes according to the canon Benedict, Cencius Camerarius and Cajetan. The ordines Romani mention the bowing of the Subdeacon at the knees of the Pontiff, and the kissing of his hand by the priests, the archdeacon and secundarius De secretariis T. I, p. 409.