EPISTLE (AS. cpistol, OF. epistle, •pistre, Fr. epitrc, Lat. epistola, from Gk. in-wro4, t pis tali', letter. from i-tcriXXru•, cpistellcia, to send, from i-t, epi, upon + stc//cin, to send). Properly, a letter; used specially for a letter intended for publication, or which, having been published. belongs to literature. The twenty one books of the New Testament immediately fol lowing the Book of Acts are called the Epistles, having been originally letters or cast in epistolary form. The first thirteen, traditionally assigned to Saint Paul, used to be called the Apostle.' The two epistles to Timothy and that to Titus are called the pastoral Epistles because they treat of the duties of a pastor. The general or catholic Epistles are those of Peter, James, John, and Jude. For discussion of the authorship. (late, and other questions connected with these books, see the individual articles.
The lesson in the liturgy which precedes the gospel for the day is called the epistle, because generally taken from the New Testament Epistles; in the :Middle Ages, because most of them were taken from Saint Paul, it was frequently called the 'apostle.' In the earlier ages it was custom
ary to read two lessons, one from the prophets and one from the Epistles, on feast days. In the mod ern Roman missal many of the epistles are taken from the Old Testament : on a few days two les sons are still read in this place, on Ember Satur days six, of which the first five are from the Old Testament. Saint Jerome is said by the medi awal liturgical writers to have made the selection of the epistles and gospels at the request of Pope Damasus. The epistle was formerly read or sung from the ambo (q.v.) ; about the end of the Sliddle Ages it became customary to recite it fac ing the altar. Being addressed to the faithful, it is read at the south side of the altar, which in medheval symbolism typifies the quarter of light, while the gospel. preached to the heathen, is read toward the north, the quarter of darkness and evil. Down to the eighth century the lector or reader was charged with the recitation of the epistle; then it was attributed to the not at first as a function of his office, hut, as a concession.