thing
specially made for so holy a purpose, and also because unleavened
bread is not so likely to crumble as ordinary bread. It is also
believed that this was undoubtedly the kind of bread our Lord used
when He instituted the Blessed Sacrament.

Use.--This is an ecclesiastical term to designate the Liturgy or
Prayer-book peculiar to any Diocese or national Church and differing
from other Liturgies in minor details. For example, in the early
ages of the English Church there were different "uses," or customs,
such as the Salisbury or "Sarum Use "; meaning the Prayer-book set
forth by Osmond in A.D. 1085, and used in the Diocese of Salisbury.
So also, there was the "Use of Bangor," the "Use of York," the
"Hereford Use," etc., but all these differing "uses" were finally
superseded by the one national use, the present Prayer-book of the
Church of England. The American Prayer-book is declared in the title
page to be "The Book of Common Prayer and Administrations of the
Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of THE CHURCH (Catholic)
_According to_ THE USE of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the
United States of America." {266}

V

Veil.--(See CHALICE VEIL.)

Veni Creator Spiritus.--The Latin title of a very ancient hymn to
the Holy Ghost, sung in the Ordination Offices, appropriate to
Whitsun Day, and formerly sung at the celebration of the Holy
Eucharist. The authorship of this hymn is commonly ascribed to St.
Ambrose, A.D. 350. The first English version (added to the
Prayer-book in 1662) has been attributed to John Dryden.

Venite Exultemus.--Meaning, "O come, let us sing," the Latin title
of the 95th Psalm, sung as the first canticle at Morning Prayer as
an Invitatory to the use of the Psalter. (See INVITATORY.)

Verger.--The name originally given to one who carried the _verge_,
or staff, before a cathedral or collegiate dignitary. The name is
now commonly applied to a paid usher.

Versicles.--Little verses or sentences uttered by the officiating
minister with corresponding replies or responses by the congregation.
For example,

V. O Lord, open Thou our lips.
R. And our mouth shall show forth Thy praise.

This feature of Public Worship has prevailed in the Christian Church
from the most ancient times, as we find it mentioned as early as
A.D. 543 as being even then of ancient origin. This is with special
reference to the Versicles after the Lord's Prayer in the Daily
Offices, which have been called