

CATHOMC CHI'lli II. 



cATIInUc 



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imUneM fully respected. In Italy the pariah priests art generally 

 chosen by competition ; an upon vacancy, a day U appointed on which 

 the testimonials ot the different candidate are compared, and they 

 themselves penonally examined before the liiahop in theology, the 

 exposition of scripture, and extemporaneous preaching ; and whoever to 

 pronouneed, by ballot, auperior to the rat, is choeen. 



Under an 

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apostolic vicariste, the clergy corresponding to the parochial 

 rally bear the title of posfofc mutionariet, and have minion* 

 tricts with variable limits placed under their care ; but are 



1 . _ I .,!.' 1 . . ' ,1 . 



or local districts with 



dependent upon the will of their ecclesiastical superiors. 



Besides the parochial clergy, there is a considerable body of eccle- 

 nUstics, who do not enter directly into the governing put of the 

 Church, although they help to discharge some of its most important 

 functions. A great number of Krular clergy are devoted to the con- 

 duct of education, either in universities or seminaries ; many occupy 

 themselves exclusively with the pulpit, others with instructing the 

 poor, or attending charitable institutions. A certain number also fill 

 prebends, or attend to the daily service of cathedrals, ftc. ; for in the 

 Catholic Church, pluralities, where the cure of souls exists, are strictly 

 prohibited, and consequently a distinct body of clergy from those 

 engaged in parochial duties, or holding rectories, &c., is necessary for 

 those duties. Besides this auxiliary force, the rtgular clergy, or 

 monastic orders, take upon them many of these functions. These 

 institutions, however closely connected with the Church, may require 

 a fuller explanation in their proper place. The clergy of the Catholic 

 Church in the West are bound by a vow of celibacy, not formally made, 

 but implied in their ordination as suli-rlracnnt. This obligation of 

 celibacy is only reckoned among the disciplinary enactments of the 

 Church. The clergy of that portion of the Greek and Armenian Church 

 which is united iu communion with the see of Rome, may !>e married ; 

 that is, may receive orders if married, but are not allowed to marry 

 after having taken orders. A similar discipline, if thought expedient 

 by the Church, might be introduced into the West. 



The only point concerning the government of the Catholic Church 

 which remains to be mentioned, is the manner in which it is exercised. 

 The most solemn tribunal is a general fottncil, that is, an assembly of 

 all the bishops of the Church, who may attend either in person or by 

 deputy, under the presidency of the pope or his legates. When once a 

 decree has passed such an assembly, and received the approbation of 

 the Holy See, there is no further appeal. Distinction must be, how- 

 ever, made between dortrinal and dinciplinary decrees ; for example, 

 when in the council of Trent it was decreed to be the doctrine of the 

 Church, that marriage is indissoluble, this decree is considered binding 

 in the belief and on the conduct, nor can its acceptance be refused by 

 any one without his being considered rebellious to the Church. But 

 when it is ordered that marriages must be celebrated only in presence 

 of the parish priest, this is a matter of discipline, not supposed to rest 

 on the revelation of Qod, but dictated by prudence ; and consequently 

 a degree of toleration is allowed regarding the adoption of the re- 

 solution in particular dioceses. It is only with regard to such 

 decrees, and more specifically the one we have mentioned, that the 

 council of Trent is said to have been received, or not, in different 

 countries. 



When a general council cannot be summoned, or when it is not 

 deemed necessary, the general government of the Church is conducted 

 by the pope, whose decisions in matters of discipline are considered 

 paramount, though particular sees and countries claim certain special 

 privileges and exemptions. In matters of faith it is admitted that if 

 he issue a decree, as it is called, r ratkedrd, or as head of the Church, 

 and all the bishops accept it, such definition or decree is binding and 

 final. The great difference between the Transalpine and Cisalpine 

 divines, as they are termed, is whether such a decree has its force prior 

 to, or independent of, the accession of the body of bishops to it, or 

 receives its sanction and binding power from their acceptance. Practi- 

 cally there is little or no difference between the two opinions ; yet this 

 slight variety forms a principal groundwork of what are called the 

 liberties of the Galilean church. 



The discipline or reformation of smaller divisions is performed by 

 provincial or diocesan synods. The first consist of the bishops of a 

 province under then- metropolitan ; the Litter of the parochial and 

 other clergy under the superintendence of the bishop. The forms to 

 be observed in such assemblies, the subjects which may be discussed, 

 and the extent of jurisdiction which may be assumed, are laid down 

 at full in a work of the learned Benedict XIV., entitled ' De Synodo 

 Dtocesana.' The acts and decrees of many such partial synods have 

 been published, and are held in high esteem among Catholics ; ind. cd 

 they may be recommended as beautiful specimens of deliberative 

 wisdom. Such are the decrees of the various synod* held at Milan 

 under the virtuous and amiable St. Charles Borromeo. 



II. The lata of the Catholic Church maybe divided into two classes, 

 those which bind the interior, and those which regulate outward 

 conduct. This distinction, which corresponds to that above made 

 between doctrinal and disciplinary decrees, may appear unusual, as th< 

 term lam seems hardly applicable to forms of thought or belii-f 

 riewing, as we have done, the Catholic Church under the form of an 

 organised religious society, and considering that it profewcs to Ix- 

 divinely authorial to exact interior aswnt to all that it teachen, under 

 the penalty of being Mpanted from iu communion, w think we can 



well classify under the word law those principles and doctrines which 

 t commands and expects all its members to profess. 



Catholics often complain that doctrines are laid to their charge which 

 hey do not hold, and in their various publications protest again-' 

 lelief being assumed upon any but authoritative document* : and 

 as such works are perfectly accessible, the complaint must appear 

 reasonable as well as just. There are several works in which an 

 rate account is given of what Catholics are expected to believe, and 

 which carefully distinguish between those points on which latitude ..f 

 opinion is allowed, and such as have been fully and decisively decreed 

 y the supreme authority of the Church. Such are Veron's ' Regula 

 Kidei,' or Rule of Faith, a work lately translated into English, and 

 Holden's 'Analysis Fidei.' But there are documents of men- authority 

 than these ; for example, the ' Declaration ' set forth by the vicars 

 apostolic or bishops in England, in 1823, often republished ; and -'ill 

 more the ' Catechismus ad Parochos,' or ' Catechism of tin- < '<mn<-il of 

 Trent,' translated into English not many years ago, and published in 

 Dublin. A perusal of such works as these will satisfy those who ni e 

 desirous of full and accurate information regarding Catholic tenets, of 

 their real nature, and show that the popular expositions of their 

 substance and character are generally incorrect. 



The formulary of faith, which persons becoming members of the 

 Catholic Church are expected to recite, and which is sworn to upon 

 taking any degree, or being appointed to a chair in a university . 

 creed of Pius IV., of which the following is the substance : 



The preamble runs as follows : " I, N. N., with a firm faith IK -li.>\ , 

 and profess all and everyone of those things whigh are contained in 

 that creed, which the holy Roman Church inaketh use of." Thru 

 follows the Niceno creed. 



" I most steadfastly admit and embrace apostolical and ecclesi- 

 astical traditions, and all other observances and constitutions of the 

 same Church. 



" I also admit the holy scriptures, according to that sense which our 

 holy mother the Church has held and does hold, to which it I > 

 to judge of the true sense and interpretation of the scriptures : n 

 will I ever take and interpret them otherwise than according to the 

 unanimous consent of the fathers. 



" I also profess that there are truly and properly seven sacraments of 

 the new law. instituted by Jesus Christ our Lord, and necessary for 

 the salvation of mankind, though not all for every one, to wit 

 tism, confirmation, the eucharUt, penance,* extreme unction, holy 

 orders,-) 1 and matrimony ; and that they confer grace ; and that of 

 these, baptism, confirmation, and order cannot be reiterated without 

 sacrilege. I also receive and admit the received and a] > 

 monies of the Catholic Church, used in the solemn administration of 

 the aforesaid sacraments. 



" I embrace and receive all and every one of the things which have 

 been defined and declared in the holy Council of Trout, cone 

 original sin and justification. 



" I profess likewise that in the mass there is offered to Qod a true, 

 proper, and propitiatory sacrifice for the living and the dead ; an 

 in the most holy sacrament of the eucharist there is tnd\ 

 substantially, the body and blood, together with the soul an.! divinity, 

 of our Lord Jesus Christ; and that there is made a change of tin- 

 whole substance of the bread into the body, and of the whole sul 

 of the wine into the blood, which change the Catholic Church 

 trausubstantiatiiiH. I also confess that under either kind alone Christ 

 is received whole and entire, and a true sacrament. 



" I firmly hold that there is a purgatonj, and that the souls therein 

 detained are helped by the suffrages of the faithful. 



" Likewise, that the saints reigning with Christ arc to be honoured 

 and invocated, and that they offer up prayers to Qod for us ; and that 

 their relics are to be had in veneration. 



" I most firmly assert that the images of Christ, of the mother of 

 God, and also of other saints, ought to be had and retained, and that 

 due honour and veneration are to be given them. 



" I also affirm that the power of indulgences waa left by Ch< 

 the Church, and that the use of them is most wholesome to Ch> 

 people. 



" I acknowledge the holy Catholic Apostolic Roman Church for the 

 and mistress of all churches ; and I promise true obedience to 

 the Bishop of Rome, successor to St. Peter, prince of the apostles and 

 vicar of Jesus Christ." 



Then follow clauses condemnatory of all contrary doctrines, and 

 expressive of adhesion to all the definitions of thr ( ', nni,il of Trent. 



It is obvious that this form of confession was framed in accordance 

 to the decrees of that council, and consequently lias chiefly in view the 

 opinions of those who followed the Reformation. It would bo foreign 

 to our purpose to enter into any explanations of the doctrines here 



Under penance l Included confession ; sa the Catholic sacrament of 

 penance consists of three part) : contrition or sorrow, confession, and natis. 

 faction. 



t The clerical ordern of the Catholic Church arc divided into two classes, 

 tacrtd and minor orderi. The first consists of subdeacons, deacons, and priests, 

 who are bound to celibacy and the dally recitation of the Brtriary, or collection 

 of pnlms and prayer*, occupying a considerable time. The minor orders ore 

 four in number, nd arc preceded by the toiuurr, an ecclesiastical ceremony In 

 which UM hair U thorn, Initiatory to the ecclesiastical state, 



