CATAFALQUE
427
CATALANI
While in the last few decades the places of Chris-
tian burial of the fifth and sixth centuries in Egypt
have yielded a large amount, of well-preserved mate-
rials and woven fabrics, the garments and cloths in
which the bodies in the Roman catacombs were
wrapped have all mouldered away. It is only
while the dead were enveloped in cloth worked with
gold threads that the threads have been partially
preserved, as in the case of St. Hyacinth, be Rossi
found a body in the catacomb of PraetextatUS, and
one in the catacomb of St. Callistus that had been
wrapped in cloth with gold threads. Within recent
years a grave was discovered in the catacomb of
Priscilla where the cloths are still preserved in which
the bones lie, but it is rightly feared that they will
fall to dust when brought into the air. Once a year
at St. Peter's a large carpet is exhibited that has
sewn into it the so-called caltre, or cloth, in which, it
is supposed, martyrs were buried. Taking its gen-
uineness for granted, this cloth is the only woven
fabric now existing at Rome which has been pre-
served iron i the time of the primitive Roman Church.
VII. Catacombs Outside of Rome. — It was impos-
sible to lay out subterranean passages in the Mons Yati-
because tic soil there is not of volcanic forma- tion but consists of alluvial deposits. Consequently there is no catacomb around the grave of St. Peter; tic- faithful who wished to have their last resting-
liear the tomb of the Apostle were buried close to (he surface of the ground. Such cemeteries were probably laid out wherever the formation was not suitable for the excavation of subterranean passages, one time such area or cemeteries of the Chris- tians had no protection against desecration by a maddened mob. Where the soil allowed it, therefore, underground cemeteries were excavated. A number of small catacombs lay at a short distance from Rome, e. g. those of St. Alexander on the Via N'omen- tana. and St. Senator at Albano; the former has some import ccount of its epitaphs, the latter
on account of its paintings. The town of Chiusi in central Itah ICOmb called St. Mustiola,
Christina. At Naples the cata- combs of St. Januarius preserve paintings, e. g. of
Adam and Eve, belonging to the best period of early Christian art. Sicily has numerous catacomb pecially in the neighbourhood of Syracuse; the museum oi - epitaphs, lamps, and
other objects, contains a very beautiful early Chris- tian sarcoph; are also several small nubs on the Island of Malta, and others in Sardinia, the latter having beautiful frescoes of the fourth century. In 1905 a large catacomb was dis-
covered in North Africa near Iladrumetum in which
the graves ae a rule had not been opened, but they are
poor in epitaphs, paintings, and small objects. Lamps
are most frequently found. The ( Jreek monogram of
Christ, often found on the Roman lamps of the fourth
century, is also met on the lamps outside Rome, and in
some places is the only sure proof of the Christian
character of the burial-place.
For bibliography see Cemetery, under Early Roman Chi istian Cemeteries.
A \ n in de W \ m..
Catafalque, derived from the Italian word cata-
jalco, literally means a scaffold or elevation, but in its
strictly liturgical sense the word is employed to desig-
nate the cenotaph-like erection which is used at the
exequial offices of the Church, and takes the place of
the bier whenever the remains are not. present. It is
covered with a black cloth or pall, on which there is a
cross either of white or some other colour (De Herdt,
Praxis Sac. Lit., II. 328). The catafalque is usually
placed immediately outside the sanctuary, and is the
centre of the ceremonies of that part of the exequial
office known as the absolution, receiving the same at-
tention as the corpse would if present. Hence it is that
lights burn around the catafalque during the function,
and it is aspersed with holy water and incensed. Dur-
ing the absolution at the catafalque the cross-bearer
should always stand between it and the door of the
church, the celebrant or officiant being at the other
end, between it and the sanctuary. When it is not
possible for any reason to have a catafalque, its
place may be supplied by a square piece of black cloth
(pannus niger), which should be laid in front of the
lowest step of the altar, and be sprinkled with holy
water and incensed at the proper time by the officiant.
Formerly the word was used to designate the bier or
structure on which the corpse rested. No flowers
should be used in connexion with it, but it is allow-
able in the case of deceased prelates to mount their
insignia to show the dignity, and in flu- case of nobles
to display the family coat of arms, together with coro-
nets, orders, and other insignia, to show the rank of
the deceased. A very notable monument of this kind
was that erected to the memory of Michelangelo by
his brother artists on the occasion of his funeral in the
Church of Santa Croce, Florence.
Caremoniale Episeoporum (Rome. 190'2). 107; Van Der Stappen, Ceremonial? (Mechlin, [901): VaVASBEUR, Le cere- monial remain (Paris. 1876), I, 500 seq.: De Herdt, Praxis Sacra Liturgia (Mechlin, 1900), II. s.v. Absolulio />cf.
Patrick Mokri.sroe.
Catalani (Catai.ano, Catalanus), Giuseppe, a Roman liturgist of the eighteenth century, member of the Oratory of San Girolamo dclla Carita. (Hieron- ymite), famous for his correct editions of the chief liturgical books of the Roman Church, which arc still in habitual use, and which he enriched with scholarly commentaries illustrative of the history, rubrics, and canon law of the Roman Liturgy. Among these are the "Pontificale Romanum" (3 vols, in fol., Rome, 1738-40, reprinted at Paris, 18,">0; re edited by Muhl- bauer, Augsburg, 1878), with a learned introduction and notes, and based on the best manuscripts;
i seremoniale episeoporum" (2 vols, in fob. Rome, 1747. with copperplate engravings; reprinted at Paris, 1860); "Sacrarum Cseremoniarum sive rituum
ecclesiastioorum S. R. Kcclesi:e libri Ires" etc. (1 vol.
in fob. Rome, 1750-ol ) ; "Rituale Romanum Bene- dict! XIV jussu editum et aucfum" etc. (Home, 17o7, 2 vols, in fol.). Catalani is also the author of works on the history, series, duties, and privili
two important curial offices: "De Magistro Sacri Palatii libri duo" (Rome, 1751) and "De Secretario
S. Congreg. Indicia libri duo" (Home, 17.">l). We owe him also annotated editions of two works much used for the spiritual formation of the Catholic
