Digitus
A digitus is a kind of small pointer for the missal , which was used in the Roman rite up to the liturgical reforms as a result of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s.
Appearance
The digitus is a silver pointer about 20 cm long, at the end of which there is a reduced representation of a hand with an outstretched index finger (lat. Digitus ). In appearance it resembles a jad , as it is used in the reading of the Torah in the synagogue .
use
The digitus was only used in the pontifical office . Its purpose was to indicate to the celebrant what text in the missal was to be recited next. This became common because the liturgical books were sometimes printed in two columns. It also made it easier to comply with the rubrics , for example when prayers were inserted that were printed here. When the bishop went to the altar at the beginning of the sacrifice , the assistant presbyter stood on his left and displayed the texts to be recited with the digitus until the end of the mass.
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://www.kathnews.com/index.php?page=Thread&postID=38868&highlight=digitus#post38868 Collection of individual references