The Roman Congregations

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 3, 21 January 1904, Page 6

The Roman Congregations

Cardinal Segna, one of the ablest Cardinals in the Roman Curia, a member of five Roman Congregations and of the Biblical Commission, when asked what he considered the fundamental principle guidiing the vast administration of the Church, replied : ' Consultation.' So says a writer in the New York ' Evening Post.' The Supreme Pontiff, while possessing the plenitude of power, never exercises it in an arbitrary manner, but only after mature consultation with men of profound learning and sanctity. The immediate counsellors of the Pope are the Cardinals, who constitute the Supreme Council or Senate of the Church. In like manner every archbishop or bfshop in his respective diocese has a Board of consultors, who assist him in the exercise of his jurisdiction. Three Important Congregations. The revolt of Luther assumed such dangerous proportions in a few years that Paul 111., in 1542, established the Congregation of the Inquisition or Holy Office, whose chief purpose to-day, as then, is to combat heresy and false doctrines. Sixtus V., following' the principle adopted by Paul 111., created fifteen Congregations (Bull ' Immensa Aeterni Dei, Jan. 22, 1587), to each of which he assigned a special work, a definite procedure, and adequate jurisdiction. Thus the Consistorial Congregation (Sixtus V., 1588) prepares, discusses, and examines the 'questions which the Pope is to treat formally in his allocution to the Cardinals in a private or public consistory. All matters concerning the erection, union, or division of metropolitan or cathedral churches, the examination of candidates for the episcopacy, the granting of palliums and of ecclesiastical dignities, are referred to this Congregation. The Congregation for the Reunion of Dissenting Churches was created by Leo XIII ,in 1896, for the special purpose of studying the causes that have divided Christendom into a multitude of sects and of establishing a preparatory basis for the reconciliation of these dissidents with the Roman Catholic Church The Holy Father himself presides over the three Congregations just mentioned, because the first, the Holy Office, discusses questions of faith and morals ; the second, the Consistorial, deals with problems which call for a formal pronouncement of the Pope ; and the third, the Commission for Reunion, besides examining differences of doctrine, was created to hasten the unity of faith in which is the ' bond of peace '—a work practically dear to the great heart of Leo XIII , who had the courage and magnanimity to begin the vast project and has given it his own personal attention. The ' Propaganda,' the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, is a most important factor in the Government of the Church. It is divided into two distinct branches, the Latin and the Oriental, each having its own prefect, Cardinals, secretaries, and consultors. The Latan branch has full charge of Church interests in countries where the Latin rite prevails, namely, in Europe, Africa, America, Oceania. The Oriental' branch has jurisdiction over the Eastern schismatic peoples and those who employ ,v liturffical language other than the Latin, such as the (Ireeks, Armenians, Copts, Chaldeans, and Syrians The Propaganda has complete jurisdiction over all missionary countries, and exercises towards them the role of nearly all the other congregations. By missionary countries are meant t/hose wherein the hierarchy has not been completely organised. However, some countries, such as the United Stales, remain under the Propaganda even after the Hierarchy has been established because of the special privileges accorded to missionary lands. Some idea of the Vast and Varied Duties devolving upon this Congregation may be had from the fact that the Oriental rite^ alone comprises four principal rites namely, the Greek, the Armenian, the Syrian, and the Coptic. The first mentioned, numbering with tho Slavs nearly 100,000,000 Christians, is divided into five different branches— the pure Greek rite, the Ruthenian, the Mekhitic, the Georgian, aod the Slavic, which is subdivided into Russian, Servian, Bulgarian, and Ruthen:.xn Greek ritts. The Syrian rite includes the i.ure Syrian, the Syro-Chaldean, the Syro-Maromte, and the Svro- Malabar Finally, the Coptic is divided into Egyptian, Aliv^sinian, and Ethiopian Coptic. It is no easy task to keen thest various rites within proper limits so th it they may,, not become a menace to the unity of faith. To expedite matters, the Propaganda has been auK'-icmcd by three special commissions.

The Cardinals assemble on the first Monday of every month for the more important business of the Congregation. Once a week the Cardinal Prefect presides at a meeting of the secretaries and minutanti, who dispose of minor matters at once and prepare the different questions to be discussed and settled by the Cardinals. The Propaganda possesses one of the finest polyglot printing establishments in the world. It furnishes liturgical and other works to the missionaries, who are educated in the Propaganda College and thence are sent into all parts of the known world to spread the Gospel of Christ. r It is marvellous how the Church, while ever holding fast to principles, in the application of those principles adapts herself to the peculiar circumstances and needs of every age and of every country. In Rome the vast administration of the Church centres in the Secretariate of State under Cardinal Merry del Val, and in the Propaganda under Cardinal Gotti. The Secretariate of State deals with countries that have maintained diplomatic relations with the Holy See, where Catholics are in tlTe majority and the Canon Law of the Church can n be properly enforced. The Propaganda, on the contrary has to do with countries where Catholics are in the minority and infidels and heretics are numerous. The policy of Rome is to grant as many privileges as possible to the missionary countries while strengthening the government at home. The Cardinals and consultors comprising the Congregation of the Index represent Nearly Every Language and every country of the civilised world, so that Rome may keep in close touch with the publications of the different nations. The Congregation takes no cognizance of a publication unless it be referred to Rome by some bishop or other ecclesiastic having jurisdiction in the Church. The work is assigned for examination to some consultor familiar with its matter and language. The consultor analyses the book, draws up his conclusions and presents them for approval to the Board of Consultors, who prepare a final statement which is presented to the general meeting of the Cardinals. The latter determine first of a.ll whether the pubfication merits condemnation, and secondly whether under the circumstances such condemnation is opportune.