Chapter Holy Coat to Homer's Critics of H by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Holy Coat to Homer's Critics

Holy Coat of Treves, said to be the seamless coat of our Saviour. Deposited at Treves by the Empress Helena, who discovered it in the fourth century.

Holy Communion (The). The fellowship of Christians manifested by their mutual partaking of the eucharist. The eucharist itself is, by a figure of speech, so called.

Holy Family The infant Saviour and his attendants, as Joseph, Mary, Elizabeth, Anna, and John the Baptist. All the five figures are not always introduced in pictures of the "Holy Family."

Holy Isle Lindisfarne, in the German Ocean, about eight miles from Berwick-upon-Tweed. It was once the see of the famous St. Cuthbert, but now the bishopric is that of Durham. The ruins of the old cathedral are still visible.
   Ireland used to be called the Holy Island on account of its numerous "saints."
   Guernsey was so called in the tenth century in consequence of the great number of monks residing there.
   Rugen was so called by the Slavonic Varini.
   Scattery, to which St. Senanus retired, and swore that no female should set foot there, is the one referred to by Thomas Moore in his Irish Melodies, No. ii. 2.

"Oh! haste and leave this sacred isle
... For on thy deck, though dark it be,
A female form I see."

Holy Land (The).
   (1) Christians call Palestine the Holy Land, because it was the site of Christ's birth, ministry, and death.
   (2) Mahometans call Mecca the Holy Land, because Mahomet was born there.
   (3) The Chinese Buddhists call India the Holy Land, because it was the native land of Sakya-muni, the Buddha (q.v.)
   (4) The Greek considered Elis as Holy Land, from the temple of Olympian Zeus and the sacred festival held there every four years.
   (5) In America each of the strange politico-religious sects calls its own settlement pretty much the same thing. (See Holy City.)

Holy League (The). A combination formed by Pope Julius II. with Louis XII. of France, Maximilian of Germany, Ferdinand III. of Spain, and various Italian princes, against the republic of Venice in 1508.
   There was another league so called in the reign of Henri III. of France, in 1576, under the auspices of Henri de Guise, "for the defence of the Holy Catholic Church against the encroachments of the reformers." The Pope gave it his sanction, but its true strength lay in Felipe II. of Spain.

Holy Orders in the English Church, are those of priest and deacon. In the Roman Church the term includes the sub-diaconate. ( See Minor Orders.)

Holy Places Places in which the chief events of our Saviour's life occurred, such as the Sepulchre, Gethsemane, the Supper-room, the Church of the Ascension, the tomb of the Virgin, and so on.

Holy Thursday The day of our Lord's ascension.

Holy Saturday The Saturday before Easter Sunday.

Holy Wars are to extirpate "heresy," or to extend what the state supposes to be the one true religion. The Crusades, the Thirty-Years' War, the wars against the Albigenses, etc., were so called.

Holy Water Water blessed by a priest or bishop for holy uses.
   As the devil loves holy water; i.e. not at all. This proverb arose from the employment of holy water in exorcisms in the Holy Church.

"I love him as the devil loves holy water."

Holy Week The last seven days of Passion Week or the Great Week. It begins on Palm Sunday, and ends with Holy Saturday (q.v.). The fourth day is called "Spy Wednesday;" the fifth is "Maundy Thursday;" the sixth is "Good Friday;" and the last "Holy Saturday" or the "Great Sabbath."
   Holy Week has been called Hebdomada Muta (Silent Week); Hebdomada Passionis; Hebdomada Inofficiosa; (Vacant Week); Hebdomada Penitentialis; Hebdomada Indulgentiæ Hebdomada Luotuosa; Hebdomada Nigra; and Hebdomada Ultima.

Holy Writ The Bible.