VOTIVE (Lat. votteus, given in virtue of a vow; Fr. Mum, a vow), in ecclesiastical use, signifies the class of actions, offerings, or memorial records or observances, which are intended either as the fulfillment of a vow, or as a commemoration of the accomplish ment of the prayer which accompanied the vow. Of such votive engagements there are numerous examples in the Old Testament (Lev. xxii. 18, Dent. xii. 6), as well as in the ancient religious of the Gentile world; and the ecclesiastical historian Theodoret (De Cur. Orme. i. 8) alludes to the practice in his own day of hanging up, in the , Churches dedicated to the saints, little models of hands, feet, eves, etc., In votive corn- , memoration of the cure of lameness, blindness, and other maladies supposed to have been obtained through their intercession. The same practice continued thoughout the succeeding centuries and throughout the medimval period, and still prevails in Roman Catholic countries, especially in Italy and southern Germany. Votive offerings, often of very considerable value, may be seen in the churches of most of 'the great sanctuaries (q. v.), and in other churches in special repute as places of devotion. The offering very frequently takes the form of a votive tablet, with an inscription detailing the event on Which it is founded. Sometimes the offering is simply marked with the words ex pato,' "in fulfillment of vow ;" sometimes it is accompanied by a model in wax, in wood-carving, or even in precious metals, similar to those alluded to by Theodoret; and occasionally by a model of some object, which is meant to recall the memory of the favor received, as of a ship, in case of escape from shipwreck. etc. Many of the great churches, hospi
tals, monasteries, and other religious monuments of the middle ages and of rater times were built ex voto; and the treasuries of most of the rich cathedrals and other churches abroad contain objects of great value, the result of votive engagements on the part of the donors. The name votive is also applied in the Roman Catholic church to the mass or other service, when it is celebrated—as is permitted on certain days and in certain seasons—not according to the rite prescribed for the day itself, but according to a rite selected by the celebrant himself from a number of such "votive masses" and "votive offices." as "of the Passion," "of the Holy Trinity," of the blessed Virgin Mary," etc., which are contained in the missal and breviary.
or WOO-CITANO, a city of China, in the province of Hoo-pe. on the Yang tse-Kiang, at the influx of the Han-Kiang, about 350 in. s.w. of Nankin. This is said to be one of the finest cities of China, famous for its learning and for its manufac tures in metals. The pop. is stated at nearly 2,000,000.