673 



CATHOLIC CHURCH. 



CATHOLIC CHURCH. 



We will now describe briefly the cathetometer, in the form used by 

 M Pouillet. The instrument is supported upon a base, which is placed 

 1 kept level by means of three screws. From this base rises a rigid 



vertical axis, to which is fitted a case (a) 

 turning freely round it ; and to the case 

 is fixed a divided scale (W/,) moving 

 along with it. The scale is further 

 fixed, so as to be inflexible, by means 

 of the rod (c), while a horizontal tele- 

 scope (d), with its level (e), moves up 

 and down throughout the whole length 

 W, and the support of the telescope is 

 fifto^ aAt\, o ,...,;..,. ' telescope 



fitted with a vernier. 



has in its interior a pair of spider- 

 threads, crossed at right angles, so that 

 when the image of a point is seen to 

 coincide with the point where the 

 threads cross, we are sure that this 

 point is on the optic axis of the in- 

 strument. 



In order to set and test the cathe- 

 tometer, the telescope is placed hori- 

 zontally at first by means of its level, 

 and the screws in the base are then 

 turned until the level remains per- 

 fectly at rest during an entire revo- 

 lution of the scale round the axis of 

 rotation. 



Suppose, then, that we have to 

 measure the difference in height be- 

 tween two liquid columns, which com- 

 municate, as in Dulong's experiment, 

 by a horizontal tube. While the liquid 

 is of the same temperature throughout, 

 the level will be, of course, the same 

 in both. This being the case, place 

 the telescope of the cathetometer so 

 that, on turning it round horizontally, 

 both levels will appear successively at 

 the crossing of the Hpiders" threads, 

 while some other mark, previously 

 fixed, shall appear at the same place. 

 Then, on surrounding one of the 

 columns with melting ice, and the other 

 with hot water, one level will fall and 

 the other rise ; and we have only to 

 raise the telescope a certain distance 

 above the fixed point to know how 

 much the one has dilated, and to de- 

 press it so much below that point to 

 find the contraction of the other; 

 whence the absolute dilatation of the liquid may be easily found. 



CATHOLIC CHURCH (Roman).* Although in ordinary language 

 this name is often used to designate the ruling authority or power in 

 the Catholic religion, as if distinct from the members of that commu- 

 nion, yet the definition which Catholics give of the Church is such as 

 to comprehend the entire body of its members as well as its rulers, the 

 flock as much as the shepherds. Thus we hear of Catholics being 

 under the dominion of their Church, or obliged to obey it, as though it 

 were something distinct from themselves, or as if they were not a part 

 of their Church. This preliminary remark is made to explain a certain 

 vagueness of expression, which often leads to misapprehension, and 

 serves as the basis of incorrect ideas regarding the peculiar doctrines of 

 that Church a vagueness similar to what is frequent in writing and 

 speaking on jurisprudence ; as, for example, where the government of 

 a country is considered as a power distinct and almost at variance with 

 the nation which it rules, and not an integral part thereof. 



The Catholic Church therefore is defined to be the community of 

 the faithful united to their lawful pastors, hi communion with the see 

 of Rome or with the pope, the successor of St. Peter and vicar of Christ 

 on earth. 



Simply developing the terms of this definition, we will give a brief 

 xketch of the constitution or fundamental system of this Church, under 

 the heads of ita government, it laws, and its vital or constitutive 

 principle. 



I. The government of the Catholic Church may be considered 



It may prevent a possible misconception to note here that the plan 

 adopted in the ' Penny Cyclopaedia,' and adhered to in the present work, in 

 reference to articles intended to give an account of the doctrines held by 

 particular Churches and communities, was, whenever practicable, to obtain an 

 authentic statement of those doctrines from some person of acknowledged 

 position in the body itself, and to confine the article strictly to such a state- 

 ment. Thus the article Catholic Church was written by a Catholic clergyman of 

 eminent learning and ability, who has since been elevated to a high dignity in 

 that Church : and it is here reprinted exactly as It originally appeared, as far 

 at regards the principles, and with only the corrections rendered necessary in 

 the historical portion by the events that hare occurred since the original was 

 written. 



ARTS AKD SCI. DIV. VOL. II. 



monarchical, inasmuch as the pope is held in it to be the ruler over 

 the entire Church, and the most distant bishop of the Catholic Church 

 holds his appointment from him, and receives from him his authority. 

 No bishop caff be considered lawfully consecrated without his appro- 

 bation. The dignity or office of pope is inherent in the occupant of 

 the see of Rome, because the supremacy over the Church is believed 

 to be held in virtue of a commission given to St. Peter, not as his own 

 personal prerogative, but as a part of the constitution of the Church, 

 for its advantage, and therefore intended to descend to his successors, 

 as the episcopal power did from the apostles to those who succeeded 

 them in their respective sees. 



The election of the pope, therefore, devolves upon the clergy of 

 Rome, as being their bishop ; and it is confided to the college of cardi- 

 nals, who, bearing the titles of the eldest churches in that city, repre- 

 sent its clergy, and form their chapter or electoral body. The meeting 

 or chapter formed for this purpose alone is called a condai-e. The 

 cardinals are in their turn appointed by the pope, and compose the 

 executive council of the Church. They preside over the various 

 departments of ecclesiastical government, and are divided into boards 

 or congregations, as they are called, for the transaction of business 

 from all parts of the world ; but every decision is subject to the pope's 

 revision, and has no value except from his approbation. 



On some occasions they are all summoned together to meet the pope 

 on affairs of higher importance, as for the nomination of bishops, or the 

 admission of new members into their body ; and then the assembly is 

 called a consistory. The full number of cardinals is 72, but there are 

 always some hats left vacant. 



The Catholic Church being essentially episcopal is governed by 

 bishops, who are of two sorts, bishops in ordinary, and vicars apostolic. 

 By the first are meant titular bishops, or such as bear the name of the 

 see over which they rule, as the Archbishop of Paris, or of Tuam, the 

 Bishop of Cambray, or New Orleans. The manner of appointing such 

 bishops varies considerably. Where they are unshackled by the govern- 

 ment, the clergy of the diocese meet in chapter, according to old forms, 

 and having selected three names, forward them to the Holy See, where 

 one is chosen for promotion. This is the case in England, Ireland, 

 Belgium, and perhaps in the free states of America. In most countries, 

 however, the election of bishops is regulated by concordat ; that is, a 

 special agreement between the pope and the civil government. The 

 presentation is generally vested in the crown ; but the appointment 

 must necessarily emanate from the pope. 



The powers of bishops, and the manner of exercising their authority, 

 are regulated by the canon law ; their jurisdiction on every point is 

 clear and definite, and leaves no room for arbitrary enactments or 

 oppressive measures. Yet it is of such a character as, generally con- 

 sidered, can perfectly control the inferior orders of clergy, and secure 

 them to the discharge of their duty. In most Catholic countries there 

 is a certain degree of civil jurisdiction allowed to the bishops, with 

 judicial powers, in matters of a mixed character, as in cases appertain- 

 ing to marriages, where a distinction between civil and ecclesiastical 

 marriage has not been drawn by the legislature. Some offences con- 

 nected with religion, as blasphemy or domestic immorality, are likewise 

 brought under their cognisance. 



In some places, chiefly those which are dependencies of England, as 

 in Gibraltar, the Cape of Good Hope, and the East Indies, the bishops 

 who superintend the Catholic Church and represent the papal authority, 

 are known by the name of vicars apostolic ; thus at Calcutta, the vicar 

 apostolic of West Bengal is archbishop in partibus of Edessa. A vicar 

 apostolic is however not necessarily a bishop. Generally, however, he 

 receives episcopal consecration ; and, as from local circumstances, it is 

 not thought expedient that he should bear the title of the see which 

 he administers, he is appointed with the title of an ancient bishropric 

 now in the hands of infidels, and thus is called a bishop in partibus 

 injidelium, though the last word is often omitted in ordinary language. 

 A vicar apostolic, being generally situated where the provisions of the 

 canon law cannot be fully observed, is guided by particular instructions, 

 by precedents and consuetude, to all which the uniformity of discipline 

 through the Catholic Church gives stability and security. The powers 

 of a vicar apostolic are necessarily more extended than those of ordinary 

 bishops, and are ampler in proportion to the difficulty of keeping up a 

 close communication with Rome. Thus many cases of dispensation in 

 marriage which a continental bishop must send to the Holy See may 

 be provided for by a vicar apostolic ; and other similar matters, for 

 which these must consult it, could at once be granted by the eccle- 

 siastical superiors of the Mauritius or of China. The nomination of 

 vicars apostolic is solely with the pope. In America, in England, and 

 some other places, the vicars apostolic have been replaced by bishops 

 bearing the title of some town within their diocese. 



The inferior clergy, considered in reference to the government of the 

 Church, consists mainly of the parochial clergy, or those who supply 

 their place. In all countries possessing a hierarchy, the country is 

 divided into parishes, each provided with uparochus or curate, corre- 

 sponding to the rector or vicar of the English Established Church ; 

 the curate in the English and Irish churches being only equivalent to 

 the vicaire of France and the sotto curato of Italy. The appointment 

 to a parish is vested in the bishop, who has no power to remove again 

 at will, or for any cause except a canonical offence juridically proved. 

 The right of presentation by lay patrons is, however, in particular 



