4. The day after, which was Sunday, after the lessons and the sermon, when the Catechumens were dismissed, I was teaching the creed to certain candidates The Competentes, those of the Catechumens who having requested to be baptized were admitted to be instructed in the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer in preparation. This was usually done in Lent. in the baptistery of the basilica. There it was reported to me that they had sent decani Officials probably of the same kind as lictors. from the palace, and were putting up hangings, The officials were fixing outside the basilica certain vela or hangings, the effect of which was to mark the building as Imperial property. and that part of the people were going there. I, however, remained at my ministrations, and began to celebrate mass. Missam facere. This is the earliest extant instance of the use of this subsequently almost universal name for the Holy Eucharist, the meaning of which is uncertain.