Bernard of Clairvaux in his
> Sermon II on the Purification points out that 'we' (Cistercians presumably)
> process in reverse order of seniority, so that the last are first and the
> first
> last, as a lesson in humility.
Does Bernard indeed mean Cistercians in particular? Actually all Christian processions take
place in reverse order of seniority - at Mass the acolytes would come first (though
etymologically one might expect they would follow - Greek akoloutheo, I follow), followed by
subdeacon, deacon, and finally priest - unless there is a bishop, in which case he comes last.
This order has been in use since early times; cf. Amalarius of Metz in the ninth century (Pat.
Lat.) who describes the introit procession in some detail. Possibly Bernard means 'We (sc.
Christians) . . .' - and this would apply to all processions, not just those at Candlemass.
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