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diff --git a/36889-8.txt b/36889-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2133d6e --- /dev/null +++ b/36889-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2811 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Irish Ecclesiastical Record, Volume 1, +April 1865, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Irish Ecclesiastical Record, Volume 1, April 1865 + +Author: Various + +Release Date: July 29, 2011 [EBook #36889] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IRISH ECCLES. RECORD, APRIL 1865 *** + + + + +Produced by Bryan Ness, David Garcia and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + + + + + + + + + + +THE IRISH ECCLESIASTICAL RECORD. + +APRIL, 1865. + + + + +MEMOIRS OF MY MINISTRY. + +BY CARDINAL CONSALVI. + + +In the lonely hours of his exile at Rheims, whither he had been banished +by Napoleon for having refused to assist at the imperial marriage +with Maria Louisa, Cardinal Consalvi found employment in tracing from +memory an outline of the great affairs which had occupied him during his +ministry as Secretary of State. It was no self-love nor mean desire of +praise that induced the man of action thus to become the historian of +his own deeds. To the same zeal which had nerved him in his conflicts +for the cause of the Church, do we owe the truthful record he has left +us of the fortunes of these conflicts in which the Holy See was so +audaciously attacked and so successfully defended. The thought that, +perhaps, one day his words might be of advantage to the interests of +religion, or might supply weapons for its defence, was a motive strong +enough to influence him to undertake the task under circumstances +the most unfavourable that can well be imagined. "I have drawn up +these memoirs", he writes, "at most critical moments; how critical, +may well be imagined when I mention, that as soon as I have finished +a page I must hide it at once in a safe place, so as to secure it from +the unforeseen perquisitions to which at all times we are exposed.... +I am without notes either to guide or to confirm my reminiscences. +I have not the leisure, nor the tranquillity, nor the security, nor +the liberty which I require, if I would enrich my narrative with comments +and becoming ornaments.... If God grant me life and better days, I hope +to give to my work all that perfection of form and style which is at +present beyond my power". + +But, whatever the narrative may lack in perfection of form and style, +is abundantly compensated by the interest attaching to the events +it describes. It sets before us a picture of the movement of European +society during the stirring period of the Cardinal's administration. The +intrigues, and schemes, and falsehoods of diplomacy; the art of masking +ambitious designs under generous language, and laying snares for a +rival's unwary feet; the dishonourable selfishness, the detestable +hypocrisy--in a word, all that goes to make up the strategy of modern +statecraft, is laid bare in its pages by a master hand. And what lends +fresh interest to the subject is the contrast it offers between the +baseness of courts and the loyal rectitude of the Holy See, between +the plotting which on the world's side exhibits nought but the cunning +of the serpent, and the honourable prudence on the part of the Church +which tells also of the simplicity of the dove. On the one hand we have +a web of intrigue, each thread of which is meant to secure some perhaps +undue advantage; on the other, a straightforward policy placing religion +above everything, and worthy of the Pontiff who is vicar on earth of +that Lord who loves souls. That the voice of such a policy should be +heard at all, is due under Providence to the temporal sovereignty of the +Holy See. The folly of those who would wish, for the sake of religion, +to see the Pope a subject rather than a sovereign, cannot be better shown +than by the history of the relations between the Holy See and the courts +of Europe during Consalvi's administration. During that period Naples, +Spain, Portugal, Austria, Russia, Malta, and France had each of them +separate negociations to conduct with the Holy See on matters affecting +the liberty of the Church and the interests of religion. It was a time +when the interests of different states crossed each other in a thousand +ways, and if the Pope had been the subject of any one of these kingdoms, +it would have been simply impossible, humanly speaking, to carry on +the government of the Church. Statesmen would have at their hand the +ready pretext that the decisions of the Holy Father were coloured by +undue national prejudices, and this pretext would serve to excuse +their own encroachments upon the liberties of the Church in their +own territories. Besides, that jealousy of the Church which has ever +impelled statesmen to fetter its action, would certainly influence the +sovereign who might claim the Pope as his subject to interfere with the +liberty of so formidable a rival. The success which followed Cardinal +Consalvi's management of affairs was due, no doubt, in great part, to his +surpassing abilities; but these abilities required, as the condition of +their exercise, the vantage ground of independence. Speaking from the +steps of a throne, with all the liberty which that position secured to +him, the Cardinal Secretary had an influence which could never belong +to the mere ecclesiastic raising a suppliant voice at the footstool of +some haughty sovereign. + +The relations of France with the Holy See in the beginning of this +century were such as to demand the unceasing attention of the Papal +minister. We have already given the history of the negotiations +concerning the Concordat with the First Consul; we are sure that the +Cardinal's narrative of other transactions between Napoleon and the +Pope will prove not less interesting to our readers. + +It is not a little singular that the earliest negotiation between Pius +VII. and France was precisely similar to the latest, and that the name +of England held a prominent place in both. It is not at all singular, +however, that the Pope followed in the latest the self-same principles +of conduct which he professed in the earliest, even though this faithful +adherence to his duty cost him his throne, and his liberty. Soon after +his arrival in Rome, from Venice, there was some reason to fear lest +the French army might proclaim once more the Roman Republic, and thus +deprive the Holy Father of his dominions. All anxiety was soon dispelled +by the proclamation issued by Murat to his troops, then about to march +upon Naples through the Pontifical territory. In this proclamation he +commanded his soldiers to observe strict discipline in passing through +the friendly territory of the Holy See. This recognition of the papal +sovereignty was a joyful surprise to all those who heard of it. But among +those who did not hear of it was a Mgr. Caleppi, just named as Nuncio +to the Brazils, who had become acquainted with Murat at Florence. Filled +with zeal for the Pope, Mgr. Caleppi, without having received any orders +from Rome, hurried after the general and overtook him at Florence. He +there induced Murat to agree to a treaty, securing the integrity of +the Papal territory on certain conditions, which he promised would +be at once carried to Rome and gladly accepted by his Holiness. The +treaty was short, but contained one article which plunged the Holy +Father into a most embarrassing position. This article declared that +the Pope would close his ports against the English and all other enemies +of France. Nothing could be more opposed than this to the view the Pope +took of the duties of his position as common Father of the faithful and +minister of peace. He had resolved to maintain a strict neutrality in +the great struggle that was going on, hoping by this conduct to preserve +the free exercise of his spiritual sovereignty, even in the countries +against whose sovereigns France was waging war. The indiscreet zeal of +Mgr. Caleppi placed him in the alternative of either breaking through +his fixed rule of conduct, or of making a declaration of neutrality at +a time when such a declaration was sure to be attended with the most +disastrous consequences. He resolved not to ratify the treaty. In a +short time Murat came to Rome, and by his frank and loyal character, +won for himself the esteem of Consalvi. When they came to treat of the +convention, and when the Cardinal disavowed the proceedings of Mgr. +Caleppi, Murat gave a signal proof of his affection for Pius VII. It was +in his power to insist on the ratification of the treaty, and to inform +Bonaparte of the Pope's refusal; but he preferred to lose the credit +he could have won for himself by such an act, and after employing many +arguments to shake the Pope's resolution, he at length exclaimed: "Well, +then, since this treaty is a source of so much trouble to the Holy Father +and to you, let us throw it into the fire, and say no more about it". + +Soon after this occurrence Consalvi went to Paris to negociate the +Concordat. After the ratification of the French Concordat came the +discussion of the Italian Concordat for the kingdom of Italy. What the +organic laws were to the French Concordat, the decrees of the President +Melzi became to the Italian one. The Emperor's decrees--which, while they +appeared to revoke those of Melzi in deference to the Pope's opposition, +in reality confirmed them--completely frustrated the good effects of +the Concordat. The difficulties of these two negociations were hardly +over when the marriage of the Emperor's brother Jerome was a source +of fresh trouble to the Holy See. Napoleon urged the Pope to declare +null the marriage his brother had contracted in America without the +consent of his mother or his brother. Cardinal Fesch, the Emperor's +uncle, was charged with the management of this affair, and spared no +importunities to extort from the Pope the desired decision. The whole +question hinged on this: could the Emperor prove that the decrees of the +Council of Trent had been published at Baltimore, where the marriage +was contracted? If proof of this were forthcoming, the Pope would at +once declare the marriage null and void; but if it could not be proved, +then the marriage was perfectly valid, seeing that the defect of the +consent of the parents was not an _impedimentum dirimens_, but only a +civil disability in the eyes of the French law. The Cardinal relates +that in the many letters written by the Emperor to the Pope during the +course of this affair, he frequently insisted, and with extreme energy, +on the fact that his brother's spouse was a Protestant, and he censured +in the most abusive language the Pontiff, who, as he said, was desirous +of maintaining a heretic in a family every member of which was destined +to mount a throne. The Pope's reply was, that although this difference +of religion rendered the marriage unlawful, yet it did not make it +invalid. After these letters, who could believe that as soon as the +ecclesiastical authorities at Paris had declared the American marriage +null and void, the Emperor would make Jerome marry another Protestant, +the daughter of the King of Wurtemberg, and afterwards Queen of +Westphalia? + +Next came the great event of the journey of Pius VII. to Paris, to +officiate at the coronation of the Emperor. One day a letter came to +Rome from the Cardinal Caprera, then legate at Paris, containing an +announcement as unexpected as it was important. The Legate stated that +the Emperor had summoned him to an audience, and had represented to +him that all orders of the state, and the best friends of the Church, +believed it likely to be of service to religion that he should be crowned +by the Pope under his new title of Emperor of the French; that this was +also his own opinion; that the state of France made it impossible for +him to co to Rome to receive the diadem there, and that consequently +the ceremony could not be performed unless the Pontiff should consent +to come to Paris for the purpose, as some of his predecessors had done; +that, by reason of the advantages which would accrue from it to religion, +the Pope would remain satisfied with his journey beyond all his hopes; +that the matter should be laid at once before the Holy Father; and in +case he consented, that the government would forward a formal invitation +with all the solemnity and pomp befitting such a guest and such a host. + +The imperial representations were backed by the Cardinal Legate's +own remarks. He added that he was in a position to declare that +great benefits would follow the Pope's compliance, whilst the worst +consequences might be speedily expected from a refusal; that a refusal +would be felt very much, and would never be forgiven; that excuses based +on the health or the advanced age of the Pope, on the inconveniences of +the journey, etc., would be looked upon as mere pretexts; that a tardy +reply would be equivalent to a refusal; and that it was idle to raise +objections on the etiquette of the reception and sojourn at Paris, +for the writer knew, on the best authority, that the reception of the +Holy Father would equal, and even surpass, in magnificence all former +occasions; but the Emperor was not willing to undergo the humiliation +of binding himself by a formal treaty to do that to which his own heart +naturally inclined him. + +This proposal was of a nature to require the most careful consideration. +The impetuous character of Napoleon made it easy to foresee what +disastrous consequences might spring from a refusal; and on the other +hand, the state of European feeling towards the Emperor was such as +to convince any one that to accept the invitation was to provoke the +indignation both of governments and of individuals. What was the Holy +Father to do in such a crisis? He did what the Popes have ever done; +calling to mind that human wisdom is weak at its best--_cogitationes +mortalium timidae et incertae_, as he expressed it in his allocution--he +implored from God light and help to the end that he might discover which +of the two courses would better promote the honour and the interests +of religion. He set aside all earthly influences, and refused to take +counsel from human motives. He convoked the Sacred College, and laid +before it the letters of the Cardinal Legate and of Cardinal Fesch, who, +as French Ambassador at Rome, had been charged by his government with +the negotiation. The Cardinals gave their opinion in writing, and by a +majority declared that the invitation should be accepted. The Emperor +had formally pledged his word that the journey would be productive of +much good to religion, and it was thought the Pope could not refuse an +invitation so expressed. A refusal would throw all the blame of the +consequences on the Holy See, and it was of the last importance that +no pretext for these calumnies should be afforded to the enemies of +that See. Besides, all the Catholic powers of Europe, and many besides, +had already recognized the new empire. In addition to these general +reasons, there were two to which special weight was attached. The +organic laws, and the installation of constitutional bishops, who had +not retracted their errors, were two outrages upon religion in France, +which caused perpetual grief to the Holy Father. The formal promises of +Napoleon, coupled with the advantage of the Pope's presence in Paris, +gave good grounds to hope that these two evils could be remedied if the +Emperor's invitation were accepted. It was not thought prudent, however, +to accept the invitation in the dark, as it were, nor did the Emperor's +verbal promises to the Legate, nor Cardinal Fesch's vague generalities +on the good of religion, inspire confidence enough. Before the Pope +would give his final consent, he determined to reduce to something +tangible and obligatory these vague indefinite promises of the French +government. Cardinal Fesch advised that the Pope should exact, as +a condition of his consent, the restitution of the three Legations +which France had torn from the States of the Church. But the pure soul +of Pius VII. revolted against the idea of admitting any thought of +temporal advantages; not only did he reject the Cardinal's well-meant +suggestion, but positively forbade him ever again to make mention of it. +He refused to give his consent unless the French government would promise +to withdraw the organic laws, and to abandon those of the constitutional +bishops who should refuse to make a public and sincere retractation. It +took four or five months of negotiation to extort these promises from +Napoleon. During that period Consalvi had daily conferences with Cardinal +Fesch, whose warm temper frequently led to lively debates. At length +M. de Talleyrand addressed an official note to the Cardinal Legate, in +which it was expressly declared that as to the organic laws the Emperor +would treat directly with the Holy Father, whose representations should +be attended to in such a way as to give his Holiness the most complete +satisfaction. The Emperor was ready to do even more than the Pope had +asked; and it was insinuated that he would be happy to listen with +favour to any requests the Pope should make concerning his temporal +interests. Touching the intruded bishops, M. de Talleyrand made large +promises, but their tenor was so vague that the Holy Father did not +remain satisfied until he held in his hand a written promise that the +constitutional bishops should make their retractation in the Pope's hands +in the form prescribed by him, and that any who might refuse to do so +should be forced to resign their sees. This point having been arranged, +it was thought that the due regard for the majesty of the pontifical +dignity demanded some other precautions. The Holy Father felt that he +ought not to expose his high office to insult or irreverence, and this +consideration urged him to request some information as to the manner in +which he was to be received at Paris by the Emperor. In his reply to the +inquiries made on this point Talleyrand employed these remarkable words: +"Between Pius the Seventh's journey to France, his reception there, +his treatment, and the results which are to spring from it, and Pius the +Sixth's journey to Vienna, there shall be as much difference as there is +between Napoleon I. and Joseph II.". Another precaution judged necessary +by Consalvi regarded the coronation itself. The later notes of Cardinal +Fesch were remarkable for a strange variety of expressions. Instead of the +word _coronation_ (_incoronazione_), employed in the original invitation +presented by the Cardinal Legate in the Emperor's name, the Cardinal Fesch +had commenced to use the word _consecration_ (_consecrazione_). Consalvi +at once demanded the reason of this change, and Cardinal Fesch replied: +"Beyond all doubt, the Pope is to crown the Emperor, but I believe there +is to be a double coronation, one in the Church by the Pope, the other in +the Champ de Mars by the Senate". The Pope at once sent a despatch to the +Legate at Paris commanding him to signify to the Emperor that the Holy +Father could not allow his Majesty to be crowned by other hands after +he had been crowned by the Pope; that a second coronation would be an +insult to the dignity of the Head of the Church; and that, consequently, +if it were intended that the Emperor should be twice crowned, the Holy +Father would not go to Paris at all. Talleyrand replied in an official +note that the Emperor set too high a value on his coronation by the +Pope to wish to receive a second diadem from the hands of others. + +The choice of those who were to form the suite of the Pontiff next came +under discussion. The French government was anxious that the Pope should +take with him twelve cardinals and a corresponding number of prelates and +of Roman nobles. The Holy Father resolved to bring only four cardinals +and four bishops, besides the prelates attached to his immediate service, +such as his _maggiordomo_ and his _maestro di camera_. The two Roman +princes who commanded the noble guard were to follow him. However, in +deference to Cardinal Fesch's requests, he added to this little court +the two cardinal deacons, Braschi and de Bayane. The other four cardinals +were Antonelli, de Pietro, Borgia, and Caselli. + +To conduct these negotiations to a happy issue was a task of immense +difficulty. The Cardinal writes that while they were proceeding he +had to bear what was almost intolerable, and what only his zeal for +the interests of the Holy See could have made him brook. At length the +decisive _yes_ was spoken, at first confidentially, because no formal +invitation was to be delivered until such time as all arrangements were +completed. The French government at once announced the Pope's intended +visit, in order that the publicity thus given to his promise might make +any change of purpose impossible or very difficult. Having thus made +himself sure of the presence of the Roman Pontiff at his coronation, +Napoleon all at once changed his tone, and made the Pope feel how +little respect be really had for the Head of the Church. Indeed, it +was Cardinal Consalvi's deliberate opinion--and after events show that +he was correct in his judgment--that the French government was fully +determined never to carry out the promises which the Pope's minister +had extorted from it. The formal invitation was couched in language +that fell far short of the ancient formula used on similar occasions, +and which the government had promised to employ. Then, instead of +deputing ecclesiastics or great dignitaries to present the Emperor's +letter to Pius VII., Napoleon sent through Brigadier-General Caffarelli +a note so mean in every respect that the Holy Father was inclined to +refuse to accept it. But as he had undertaken the journey for the good +of the Church, he resolved to bear with calmness and patience whatever +slights might be put upon him. He soon found abundant occasions for the +exercise of these virtues. In the first place, he was forced to set out +on his journey with a precipitate speed that was equally unbecoming his +dignity and injurious to his health. He left Rome on 2nd November, 1802, +in order to arrive at Paris on the 27th or 28th; and during this long +journey he was allowed to rest only twice--once at Florence for a day +or two, and again a day at Turin--a few hours of repose being with +difficulty permitted him at other places on the road. Besides, he was +not even consulted about the day to be fixed for the ceremony, although +common politeness should have suggested this mark of deference. "I will +say nothing", says Consalvi, "of all the Pope had to suffer from the +disrespect shown him in the capital; I will not speak of the manner +in which Napoleon made his first appearance before his Holiness at +Fontainebleau, in the midst of a pack of fifty hounds, as if going to +or returning from the chase; I will not tell how the Pope was made to +enter Paris by night and in silence, in order that no eye might see +the Emperor at the Pontiff's left, for being in his own carriage he was +forced to yield the right to his guest. I will be silent as to how and +why, on the day of the consecration, Napoleon made his Holiness wait +a full hour and a half seated on the throne near the altar, and how +all the arrangements which had been agreed on for the ceremony were +set aside; I will not tell how the Emperor himself placed the crown +on his own head, having rudely snatched it from the altar before the +Pope stretched out his hand to take it up; I will not tell how at the +imperial banquet on that day the Pontiff was made to sit in the third +place at the table where sat the Emperor, the Empress, and the Prince +Elector of Ratisbon; nor will I say a word of the second coronation +which, contrary to solemn pledges, took place in the Champ de Mars, +nor of the way in which Napoleon, although as it were in his own house, +took the right of his Holiness on all occasions when they made their +appearance together in public, nor of the little respect he showed +him. He never paid him those marks of veneration which so many great +kings and emperors have been proud to pay to the Sovereign Pontiffs. +Finally, I will be silent about the humiliations which Pius VII. was made +to undergo during the whole period of his sojourn. I have but enumerated +these sufferings, to the end that all may understand how much virtue, +moderation, and goodness the Pope had need of to follow the magnificent +examples of self-abasement which the God whose vicar he was here below, +has bequeathed to the world. I have wished, likewise, to expose conduct +on which I will not allow myself to pass judgment, for I could not do +so with becoming coolness and self-respect". + +These insults would have been more sweet to the Holy Father if he had +been able to realise all the good he had promised himself to achieve +for religion at the price of his condescension. But here, too, he +was disappointed. After many memorials on the subject to the Emperor, +and after many interviews, he was forced to surrender all hopes of +seeing the organic laws abolished. Napoleon was simply false to his +solemn promises. Nor would the government fulfil its engagement to +force the constitutional bishops to a retractation. But what the power +of the state would not do, the force of the Pope's gentle virtues +happily effected. He called the bishops several times to an audience; +and his affectionate manners, his kind language, and the charm of his +goodness, made such an impression on their minds, that they avowed their +schism, and made a solemn retractation in the form prescribed by the +Holy See. Nor did any one of them ever afterwards, by word or deed, +give sign of their ancient errors. The Pope thus had the unspeakable +delight of having, by his journey, extinguished that dangerous schism, +to effect the destruction of which he had before agreed to the Concordat. + +We must pass over the other indignities which the Pope had to endure +before he could effect his departure from Paris. It was while the Pope +was his guest that the Emperor changed the Italian republic into the +kingdom of Italy, taking formal possession of the three Legations, and +adding the pontifical keys to his coat of arms. He was also disrespectful +enough to neglect his duties as host, by setting out for Italy before +the Pope left his palace. He even compelled his Holiness to follow him, +and wait at every post for the use of the horses which had been employed +to draw the imperial carriages. He was too jealous to allow the Pope to +officiate in public at any religious ceremony, even on Christmas Day, +on which festival the Sovereign Pontiff had to go to the parish church +to say a low Mass. Even the presents which he gave in return for the +magnificent gifts which Pius VII. had brought from Rome, where Canova +had selected them, were disgracefully mean, with the exception of a +costly tiara, of which, however, the most precious jewel was a diamond +taken from the pontifical tiaras under Pius VI., to pay the exactions +of Tolentino. The newspapers were filled with the description of a +wonderful altar, two rich carriages, and other splendid presents; but +these objects never found their way to the Pope. + +On his way home Pius VII. had the consolation of receiving back into the +Church the famous Mgr. Ricci, whose name is so well known in connection +with the Synod of Pistoia. This prelate made before the Pope a full +and sincere retractation of all his errors. At length the Holy Father +arrived at Rome amidst the enthusiasm of his subjects, who so soon +were to be torn from him by the very man to do honour to whom he had +undertaken and suffered so much. + + + + +THE UNITED DIOCESES OF CORK AND CLOYNE. + + +As early as the year 1326, Pope John XXII. gave his sanction to the +contemplated union of the Dioceses of Cork and Cloyne. The Pontifical +letter conveying this sanction bears date the 2nd of August, tenth +year of his pontificate. The motive alleged by King Edward III. when +soliciting this union, was the poverty of both sees. Cork is described +as having a revenue of only sixty pounds per annum, and it is added +that both sees "adeo in facultatibus et redditibus suis tenues et +exiles sunt, quod earum praesules singulariter singuli ex eis nequeunt +juxta episcopalis status decentiam commode sustentari". Nevertheless, +this contemplated union was not carried into effect, and for more than +one hundred years we find a distinct and regular succession of bishops +in each see. It was only in 1430, when both sees happened to be vacant +at the same time, that Jordan, chancellor of Limerick, was appointed by +Pope Martin V., first bishop of the united dioceses of Cork and Cloyne. + +Thirty years later intelligence was conveyed to Pope Pius II. that this +bishop, weighed down by the burden of eighty years, was no longer able +to exercise his episcopal functions, the more so as he was subject to +frequent infirmities, and suffered from an excessive weakness of sight. +Hence, on 27th of May, 1461, we find William Roche (_alias De Rupe_) +appointed auxiliary bishop of Dr. Jordan, with right of succession to +the united sees. In the brief of appointment he is styled "Archdeacon +of Cloyne, of noble lineage, distinguished by his zeal, prudence, and +learning": "aliarumque virtutum donis quibus eum Altissimus insignivit" +(_Monument. Vatic._, pag. 430). This prelate, however, was not pleasing +to the aged bishop, whilst he was specially distasteful to the English +monarch: and to restore peace to our southern see, Rome found it +necessary, in the following year, to relieve Dr. Roche of the duties +of auxiliary bishop. + +On the 31st of January, 1462-3, Gerald Fitzgerald was appointed by the +Sovereign Pontiff bishop of the united sees, vacant by the resignation +of the aged Bishop Jordan. Many efforts were subsequently made to set +aside this appointment; however, it was irrevocably recognized by Rome. +The chief difficulty arose from the former coadjutor, Dr. Roche, who, +finding the see now vacant by the resignation of Bishop Jordan, claimed +it as belonging to him by that "right of succession" which had originally +been accorded to him. It was only in December, 1471, that this controversy +was finally closed, when a letter was addressed by Pope Paul II. to the +Archbishop of Cashel, commanding him to put Gerald Fitzgerald in full +possession of all the temporalities of the united sees. Peace being +thus restored, Dr. Fitzgerald remained in undisturbed possession till +his death in 1479. William Roche, by his submission to the former +decisions of the Holy See, merited to be appointed his successor; +thus all rival claims were happily adjusted, and Dr. Roche for eleven +years continued to administer this see. When at length he resigned the +arduous charge, Thady Mechar or Maher was appointed the next bishop in +1490. Most of the temporalities of the see, however, were seized on by +the Fitzmaurices and other southern chieftains; so much so that Pope +Innocent VIII. was obliged to issue a brief on the 18th of July, 1492, +commanding these parties under the usual penalties to desist from their +iniquitous usurpation. The Pontiff's letter thus begins:-- + + "Dudum Corkagensi et Clonensi Ecclesiis invicem canonice unitis, + tunc certis modis vacantibus, nos illis de persona Ven. fratris + nostri Thadei Episcopi Corkagensis et Clonensis, nobis et fratribus + nostris, ob suorum exigentiam meritorum, acceptâ, de fratrum eorumdem + consilio apostolica duximus auctoritate providendum.... Cum autem, + sicut non absque gravi animi displicentia accepimus, nonnulli + iniquitatis filii videlicet Mauritius comes de Simonie, ac Willelmus + Barri, ac Edmundus Mauritii de Gerardinis et communitas civitatis + Corkagiae necnon universitas civitatis Yoghilliae Clonensis Dioecesis + ipsorumque comitis et Willelmi ac Edmundi fratres eorumque ac + civitatis et universitatis praedictorum subditi, necnon Philippus + O'Ronayn, clericus Corkagensis Dioecesis, nescitur quo spiritu + ducti, ipsum Thadeum Episcopum, quominus possessionem regiminis et + administrationis ac bonorum dictarum Ecclesiarum assequi potuerit + atque possit, multipliciter molestare et perturbare, Dei timore + postposito non cessaverint", etc. (_Mon. Vatic._, pag. 506). + +The temporalities of Cork and Cloyne were in great part gifts and +grants from the various branches of the Geraldine family, and hence it +was that these southern chieftains were now unwilling to see them pass +into the hands of a stranger. The death of Bishop Thady put an end to +the controversy. He himself had been in Rome when the decree of Pope +Innocent was made: and on his journey homeward he was seized with a +mortal distemper, which, in a few days, hurried him to his grave in +the month of October, 1492, in the town of Eporedia, now Ivrea, in +Piedmont, where his mortal remains were deposited in the chapel of +St. Eusebius. As great miracles were performed by his intercession, +he is venerated at Ivrea as Blessed. + +His successor's name was Gerald, but we only know of him that he was +implicated in the rebellion of Perkin Warbeck, for which he received +a pardon from the crown in 1496. He resigned his bishopric in 1499, +and John FitzEdmund was next appointed to these sees, by brief of 26th +June the same year. During twenty-one eventful years he continued to +administer the united dioceses, and on his death we find the following +letter addressed from Dublin by the Earl of Surrey, lord deputy, to +Cardinal Wolsey, who was at this time at the zenith of his power in +the court of King Henry:-- + + "Pleaseth your Grace to understand that the Bishop of Cork is + dead; and great suit is made to me to write for men of this country. + Some say it is worth two hundred marks per annum, some say more. + My poor advice would be that it should be bestowed on some Englishman. + The Bishop of Leighlin, your servant, having both, methinks + he might do good service here. I beseech your Grace let none of + this country have it, nor none other but such as will dwell thereon, + and such as are able and willing to speak and ruffle when need shall + be". (_State Papers_, vol. ii. page 43). + +This letter is dated Dublin, 27th August, 1520, and whatever may have +been the cause, another recommendation was transmitted in the following +month by the same lord deputy in favour of Walter Wellesley. Both +these recommendations, however, were without success, and we meet with +a Bishop _Patrick_, whose name sufficiently indicates the land of his +birth, holding these sees in the year 1521. His episcopate was short: +as Cotton remarks, "he probably sat only for a year or two". In the +State Papers Cork is again described as vacant on the 25th of April, +1522: and before the close of that year John Bennett was appointed by +the Holy See, successor of Saint Finbarr. He chose for his place of +residence the collegiate establishment of Youghal, which had originally +been founded by his family, and at his death he too endowed it with +a great part of his own paternal property. Brady in his _Records_ has +registered several interesting memorials connected with this ancient +Collegiate Church of Youghal. The catalogue of its books, drawn up +in the year 1490, especially deserves attention, as it reveals to us +what was the literary store treasured up in an humble religious house +in a country town of our island at a supposed period of ignorance and +barbarism. Besides several books of devotion and tracts on the decretals +and canon law, there were eight Missals, five of which are described +as "missalia pulchra pergameni". There was also the Life of Christ, +by Ludolf of Saxony, now so rare, the Letters of St. Jerome, the Works +of St. Gregory the Great, the Summa of St. Thomas, and a number of +treatises by St. Bonaventure, the Master of Sentences, St. Antoninus, +and others. The Sacred Scriptures had a specially prominent place; +there were five psalters for the use of the choir, and twelve other +copies of the Bible. One of these is entitled "Una Biblia Tripartita, +et alia parvae quantitatis": another was the Old and New Testament, +with the gloss of Nicholas de Lyra, "in five volumes"; and then there +are "quatuor Evangelistae, glossati, in quatuor voluminibus", and "unum +volumen in quo continentur parabolae Salomonis, libri Sapientiae, +Canticorum, Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiasticus", etc. Some of the works of this +little library, if now preserved, would be invaluable for illustrating +the antiquities of our island. There was one "antiquum martirologium"; +also a volume called "Petrus de Aurora, artis versificatoriae", is +described as "mire exauratum": again, "Apparatus Magistri Johannis +de Anthon super constitutiones Ottoboni": whilst another small volume +was enriched, amongst other things, "cum quibusdam historiis provinciae +Hiberniae". An addition was made to this library in 1523, consisting, +probably, of the Books of Dr. Bennett. It will suffice to mention two +of these works, viz., "Liber meditationum sancti Bonaventurae cum aliis +meditationibus et chronicis Geraldinorum", and "Biblia de impressione, +in rotunda forma, in manu Joannis Cornelii" (_Records_, etc., London, +1864, vol. 3, pag. 319, seqq.). + +Dr. Bennett died in the year 1535/6, and at his death enriched the +chantry of St. Mary's with some ancestral lands in Youghal and its +neighbourhood (_Ulster Journal of Arch._, April, 1854). Henry VIII. +appointed Dominick Tirrey to the vacant see, but the reigning Pontiff +refused to recognize this nomination, and chose a Franciscan named +Lewis MacNamara as successor to Dr. Bennett. The brief of his appointment +to Cork and Cloyne is dated 24th September, 1540. This prelate, however, +soon after his consecration was summoned to a better world, and on the +5th of November, the same year, another brief was expedited appointing +John Hoyeden, (which name is probably a corruption for _O'h-Eidhin, +i.e. O'Heyne_; see O'Donovan, _Book of Rights_, pag. 109), a canon of +Elphin, bishop of the united dioceses. From the consistorial acts we +learn that he was impeded by the crown nominee from taking possession +of the temporalities of his see, and hence on the 25th February, 1545, +he received the administration of his native diocese. The following is +the consistorial record: + + Die 20º Feb., 1545. "S. Sanctitas providit Ecclesiae Elphinensi + de persona Joannis Episcopi Corcagiensis et Clunensis (sic) qui + regiminis et administrationis Corcagensis et Clunensis Ecclesiarum + invicem unitarum possessionem eo quod a schismaticis et iis qui a + Catholica fide defecerunt occupatae detinentur assequi non potuit, + nec de proximo assequi speret: ita quod, propter hoc, eisdem + Corcagensi et Clunensi Ecclesiis praesse non desinat sed tam + Elphinensi quam Corcagensi et Clunensi Ecclesiis hujusmodi ad sex + menses a die habitae per eum pacificae possessionis seu quasi + regiminis", etc. (sic). + +It was probably impossible for Dr. O'Heyne to obtain possession of the +temporalities of his see till the accession of Queen Mary. Even then +he must have held them only for a little while, as the royal letter +granting these temporalities to Roger Skiddy is dated 18th of September, +1557. A curious record of the period gives us an accurate idea of the +possessions of the religious houses in the vicinity of Cork: it is +a pardon granted to William Bourman for alienating the property of +the house of the Friars Preachers, situated in the suburbs of Cork, +and the property thus alienated is described as "the site, circuit, +and precinct of the monastery, the church, belfry, closes (perhaps this +is for _clausura_), halls and dormitories, castles, messuages, lands, +buildings, gardens, mills, and other hereditaments thereunto belonging, +an orchard, three gardens, a water-mill, a parcel of meadows containing +half a stang, a fishing pool, a salmon weir, three acres called the half +_scaghbeg_, ten acres in Rathminy, and twenty acres in Galliveyston" +(_Morrin_, i. 374). + +The next Bishop appointed to the united sees of Cork and Cloyne was Roger +Skiddy, who for some time had held the dignity of Dean of Limerick. Queen +Mary's letter ordering the restitution of the temporalities to him, is +dated the 18th of September, 1557, and it adds that her Majesty "had +addressed letters commendatory to his Holiness the Pope a good while +since in his favour, and it was hoped he should shortly receive his +Bull and expedition from his Holiness" (_Ib._, i. 377). Letters patent +granting the temporalities to him were issued on 2nd November the same +year (_Ib._, i. 373, and _Brady_, _Records_, iii. 46), and it is probable +that the Bulls from the Holy See were expedited during the interval; for, +in an original memorandum preserved in the State Paper Office, London, +the remark is made that "the Queen's letters were sent to the Bishop of +Rome, and the Bulls were returned thence for the bishoprick of Cork" +(_Shirley_, pag. 115). Nevertheless, this Bishop was not consecrated, +neither did he receive possession of the temporalities during the +life-time of Queen Mary, although her death did not take place till +the 17th of November, 1558. For some time after the accession of Queen +Elizabeth, no mention was made of the See of Cork and Cloyne, till on +31st of July, 1562, her Majesty wrote to the Earl of Sussex and the Lord +Chancellor, "directing the admission of Roger Skiddy to the bishopricks +of Cork and Cloyne, to which he had been previously elected" (_Ibid._, +472); accordingly, on the 29th of October, 1562, this dignitary was +admitted to possession of the temporalities, and a mandate was issued +for his consecration, bearing the same date. In his writ of restitution +to the temporalities was inserted a retrospective clause, that he should +have possession of them from the time of his first advancement by Queen +Mary. Whether Dr. Skiddy was actually consecrated or not, no record has +been preserved to us, and his consecration in virtue of such a royal +mandate would be wholly uncanonical and schismatical. No doubt, however, +seems to be entertained of his orthodoxy and devotedness to the Catholic +faith: and in 1567, unwilling to lend his name to the religious novelties +which the government of the day wished to propagate in the kingdom, +he resigned the bishoprick and retired to Youghal, where for several +years he devoted his undivided attention to prepare for a happy eternity. + +Nicholas Landes was appointed bishop of this see in consistory of 27th +of February, 1568/9. The consistorial entry is curious, as it omits all +mention of Dr. Skiddy, and describes the see as vacant by the death of +Dr. John O'Heyne. + + "Die 27º Februarii, 1568: referente Revmo. Cardinali Alciato + S. Sanctitas providit Ecclesiae Corcagiensi et Cloinensi invicem + unitis, per obitum bonae memoriae Joannis Jadican, ultimi Episcopi + vacanti, de persona Rev. D. Nicolai Landes, Hiberni et litteris + Episcoporum Catholicorum ejusdem Provinciae atque etiam testimonio + Reverendi Patris Wolf S. I. commendati cum retentione rectoriae + cum cura donec possessionem Episcopatus adeptus fuerit". + +A suggestion has been made that the name _Landes_ is a corruption for +some other original name. Such errors in names are certainly very +frequent in the consistorial entries of our Irish Bishops: still, two +distinct copies of the consistorial acts (viz., the _Corsinian_ and the +_Vallicellian_) retain the present name without variation; and what is +still more important, the Brief appointing his successor, Dr. Tanner, +in 1574, describes the see as then vacant _per obitum Nicolai Landes_. +Moreover, the name _Landey_ was no novelty in the ecclesiastical records +of Ireland in the sixteenth century, an Abbot _Landey_ having held the +monastery of St. Mary's, Dublin, during Henry VIII.'s reign, as we learn +from the first volume of Morrin's _Records_. + +Dr. Edmund Tanner was next appointed to Cork and Cloyne by brief of 5th +November, 1574. There are some peculiar passages in this brief, which +merit our attention. Thus it describes Dr. Tanner as "in Theologia +Magistrum, de legitimo matrimonio procreatum, in quinquagesimo aetatis +anno et presbyteratus ordine constitutum, que fidem Catholicam juxta +articulos dudum a Sede Apostolica emanatos professus fuit, cuique de +vitae munditia, honestate morum, spiritualium providentia et temporalium +circumspectione, aliisque multiplicum virtutum donis fide digna testimonia +perhibentur". Subsequently, addressing the clergy and faithful of the +united sees, the brief continues: + + "Dilectis filiis capitulis et vassallis dictarum Ecclesiarum et + populo Corkagen. et Clonen. civitatum et Diocesium, per Apostolica + scripta mandamus, quatenus capitula tibi tamquam patri et pastori + animarum suarum humiliter intendentes exhibeant tibi obedientiam + et reverentiam debitas et devotas: ac clerus te pro nostra et + sedis Apostolicae reverentia benigne recipientes et honorifice + pertractantes, tua salubria monita et mandata suscipiant humiliter + et efficaciter adimplere procurent: populus vero te tamquam + patrem et pastorem animarum suarum devote suscipientes et debita + honorificentia prosequentes, tuis monitis et mandatis salubribus + humiliter intendant. Itaque tu in eis devotionis filios, et ipsi + in te per consequens patrem benevolum invenisse gaudeatis". + +Moreover, this is the first occasion on which I have found the following +clause inserted in the Bull of appointment to the Irish Sees: + + "Volumus autem, ut occasio et materia tibi auferatur vagandi, + quad extra Corkagen. et Clonen. civitates illarumque Dioeceses + etiam de licentia Episcoporum locorum ordinariorum Pontificalia + officia exercere nequeas, decernentes irritum et inane quidquid + secus per te actum et gestum fuerit" (_Ex Secret. Brevium Romae_). + +Dr. Tanner was consecrated bishop in Rome, and subsequently tarried +during the winter months in the Eternal City, laying up spiritual +treasures for his future mission. On the 10th of April, 1575, special +faculties were granted to him, and he was, moreover, empowered to +exercise them not only in his own united Dioceses of Cork and Cloyne, +but also "throughout the whole Province of Dublin, of which he was a +native (_universae provinciae Dublinensis ex qua exoriundus_), as well +as throughout the whole province of Munster, so long as the various +Archbishops and Bishops were obliged by the fury of the persecution +to be absent from their respective sees (Ex. _Sec. Brev._). About the +middle of May the same year, he set out from the Seven Hills to assume +the charge assigned to him, and the great Pontiff Gregory XIII. wished +to accompany him with the following commendatory letter, dated 12th of +May, 1575:-- + + "Universis et singulis Episcopis atque aliis Praelatis ad quos hae + nostrae litterae pervenerint, salutem et Apostolicam benedictionem. + + "Ut Nos commendatissimos habemus viros eos quos pietate atque + integritate praestare intelligimus, sic cupimus eos nostris + in Christo fratribus ac filiis esse summopere commendatos, + huncque animum cum omnibus pietate et virtute praeditis tum + vero venerabilibus fratribus Episcopis ut ordine ipso sic + charitate Nobis conjunctissimis Nos debere cognoscimus. In his + est venerabilis frater Edmundus Episcopus Corcagiensis qui a Nobis + discedit ut in patriam revertatur. Erit igitur Nobis gratissimum, + si eum in hac peregrinatione quam commendatissimum habebitis, + vestroque ubi opus esse intelligetis favore complectemini: Datum + Romae apud S. Petrum sub annulo Piscatoris die 12 Maii 1575, + Pontif. Nostri an. tertio". (_Theiner_, _Annals_, ii. 133). + +This worthy bishop, during four years, endured the toils and sufferings +of his perilous ministry. The Vatican list of 1579 represents the see +"Corchagiensis et Clonensis" as still presided over by a canonically +appointed bishop; and another list of the clergy who were then engaged +in the exercise of their sacred ministry in Ireland presents first +of all the name "Reverendissimus Edmundus Epus. Corchagiensis, pulsus +tamen Episcopatu". In this last named list we also find commemorated: +"Thomas Moreanus Decanus Corchagiensis": and again, "P. Carolus Lens et +P. Robertus Rishfordus, ambo Societatis Jesu, qui in variis locis docent +litteras sub cura et mandato Reverendissimi Corchagiensis". Soon after, +however, on the 4th of June, 1579, Dr. Tanner was summoned to receive +the reward of his zeal and labours. + +His successor was _Dermitius Graith_, who was proposed for the first +time in the consistory of 7th October, 1580, and whose election was +definitely confirmed on the 11th of the same month. The following is +the consistorial entry: + + "Die 11º Octobris, 1580, Cardinalis Ursinus praenunciavit Ecclesias + Corkagien. et Cloinen. invicem unitas in Provincia cuidam principi + Catholico subjecta, pro Hyberno scholari Collegii Germanici". + +In the list of the Irish clergy above referred to, under the heading +"qui sunt extra Hiberniam", is mentioned _Darmisius Craticus_, who +is described as studying in Rome, and in his thirtieth year. He is +subsequently again mentioned among those who might be destined for the +Irish mission, and it is there added that he was a native of Munster, +and though he was skilled in both the English and Irish languages, he +was more conversant with the Irish: "melius loquitur Hibernice". From +the consistorial acts we further learn that he applied himself to +sacred studies in the illustrious college which had been founded a few +years before for the purpose of supplying missioners to Germany and +other countries suffering from the oppression of heresy, and among his +companions in its hallowed halls was Nicholas Skerrett, who was destined +to be sharer of his missionary toils and perils as Archbishop of Tuam. + +Dr. Graith was one of the most illustrious missioners who laboured in our +Irish Church during the sixteenth century; and, as Peter Lombard informs +us, was at one time the only bishop in the province of Munster. Soon +after his arrival in our island, the agents of heresy mainly directed +their efforts towards his apprehension, and so chagrined were they at +his escape that they even accused Sir John Perrot of having secretly +favoured him and thus baffled their designs. In a memorial presented +to government in 1592, "Doctor Creagh, Bishop of Cloyne and Cork", +appears first on the list of those who in Munster were enemies of the +Elizabethan rule, having lived "in the country these eleven or twelve +years past, without pardon or protection, consecrating churches, making +priests", etc.; and it is further added that "he did more evil", that +is, he was more zealous in propagating our holy faith, even "_than +Dr. Sanders in his time_" (see _Essays_, etc., by Rev. Dr. M'Carthy, +pag. 424). Another State Paper, being a letter from the Lord Deputy to +Lord Burghley, in England, dated 17th May, 1593, gives us the following +particulars:-- + + "We have laboured with all possible endeavours with the Earl + of Tirone, as well by private conference as by our sending + letters, for the apprehension of the titular bishops remaining + in these parts; yet can we by no means prevail, though it is + very well known to us that the earl might have done great and + acceptable service therein, on account of the friendship between + him, O'Donell, and Maguire--Maguire being cousin-germain, and + altogether at his service, and, as report goeth, either hath or + is to marry the earl's daughter. And as in this I made bold, + I humbly pray your lordship's pardon, to state what little + success hath followed of the great shams of service made by + the Archbishop of Cashel and Richard Power, rather in regard + for their own benefit and to serve their own turns, than for + any performance of actions at all. Upon the Archbishop's coming + over they pretended a plot, both for the getting of great sums + of money for her Majesty and for the apprehension of Dr. Creaghe, + to the second of which we rather first hearkened, but in the end + nothing was done more than to spend so much time, and an open + show, as it were, made to the world how that traitor was sought + and laid for, whereby the other traitorous titular bishops might + take warning to be the more wary upon their keeping" (S. P. O.). + +The accusation which is here made against the unfortunate Miler MacGrath, +Protestant Archbishop of Cashel, had probably more foundation than the +Lord Deputy imagined; and whilst much noise was made for the arrest of +our Bishop Dermitius, intelligence of all such schemes was communicated +to him by Miler himself. One letter of MacGrath to his "loving wife Any" +is preserved in the S. P. O., dated from Greenwich, the 26th of June, +1592, in which he writes: "I have already resolved you in my mind +touching my cousin Darby Creagh, and I desire you now to cause his +friends to send him out of the whole country if they can, or if not to +send (to him) my orders, for that there is such search to be made for +him that unless he be wise he shall be taken". + +On the 31st of October, 1595, a brief was addressed to "Dermitio Episcopo +Corcagiensi", commissioning him to grant some ecclesiastical livings to +Owen MacEgan, who a few years later became illustrious in the annals +of our church as Vicar Apostolic of Ross.--(See _Irish Ecclesiastical +Record_, vol. i., p. 110). In 1599 Dr. Graith was visited by the +Franciscan Father Mooney, who in his History of the Order, commemorating +this visit, describes the bishop as "vir valde prudens et in rebus +agendis versatus". This must have been a period of harrowing anxiety +for the worthy bishop. His diocese was laid waste by fire and sword, +the Irish chieftains driven to arms by the iniquitous policy of the +agents of Elizabeth, having made the southern districts of Ireland the +theatre of their struggle. Dr. Graith shared the perils of their camp, +ministering to them the comforts of religion. One of his hair-breadth +escapes is thus described in the _Hibernia Pacata_, pag. 190: + + "The Earl of Thomond, Sir George Thornton, and Captain Roger + Harvey, with their companies, following the direction of their + guide, were conducted to Lisbarry, a parcel of Drumfinnin woods. + No sooner were they entered into the fastness, than presently + the sentinels who were placed in the outskirts of the wood, + raised the cry which it would seem roused the Earl of Desmond + and _Dermod MacCraghe, the Pope's Bishop of Cork_, who were lodged + there in a poor ragged cabin. Desmond fled away barefoot, having + no leisure to pull on his shoes, and was not discovered; but + MacCraghe was met by some of the soldiers clothed in a simple + mantle, and with torn trousers like an aged churl, and they + neglecting so poor a creature, not able to carry a weapon, + suffered him to pass unregarded". + +This happened in the month of November, 1600. + +It was on the 30th March that year, that O'Neill and the other Irish +princes addressed a letter in common to the Sovereign Pontiff, unfolding +to him the miseries which laid desolate our island, attesting too their +resolute desire to combat for the Catholic faith, and to promote the +interests of Holy Church, and petitioning in fine, that the vacant sees +of the province of Munster might be filled by those who were recommended +by the Bishop of Cork and Cloyne: they add that the only bishop then in +the southern province was "Reverendissimus Corcagiensis et Cloanensis +qui senio et labore jam paene est confectus"; and as a special motive +why the Holy See should not delay to make these appointments to the +vacant dioceses, they write: "Hoc eo confidentius petimus quia qui electi +conservati et ad nos dimissi fuerunt a vestra sacrosancta Sede, ad +vacuas his in partibus sedes occupandas, a nobis pro viribus, in iisdem +Dei gratiâ defenduntur, ut gregibus sibi commissis tuto invigilare +queant".--_Original Letter in Hib. Pacat._, page 311. + +The next notice that we find of our aged Bishop is in the appointment +of Luke Archer to administer the see of Leighlin during the absence of +its Bishop Ribera, on whose death, in 1604, the same Luke Archer was +constituted Vicar-Apostolic of that see. From the words used by Harty +when registering this appointment made by our Bishop, we may conclude +that Dr. Graith, as his predecessor, had received special faculties +from Rome not only for his own diocese, but also for the province of +Leinster. "Dermitius Chrah (he writes), Corcagiensis et Clonensis tunc +Episcopus _apostolica auctoritate qui fulserat_". + +As regards the precise period of Dr. Graith's death, no record has +come down to us. Mooney, the Franciscan annalist, merely attests that +"he lived for some time subsequent to 1599". Dr. Matthews, who was +consecrated bishop of Clogher in 1609, reckons him amongst the bishops +who survived Elizabeth, and lived for some years "aliquibus annis" under +James I. This would lead us to conclude that his life was prolonged +till the year 1605. O'Sullivan Beare, writing in 1618, leaves us in a +like uncertainty, as he refers his death in general terms to the first +year of the seventeenth century, after an episcopate of more than twenty +years. The eulogy, however, passed upon this bishop by O'Sullivan Beare +deserves to be cited in full:-- + + "Catholicorum infelicitati adscribendum est", he writes, "quod + sub id tempus fato functus sit vir integerrimus atque clarissimus + Dermysius Mac Carrhus, Corcaghae et Clueniae Episcopus, qui annos + viginti et amplius in hac insula in fide retinenda magnopere + insudavit, dumque bellum hoc gerebatur, movendis Catholicorum + animis, ut Christianam pietatem armis defenderent, multum studii + et laboris impendit: cujus interitu Ibernorum concordia non minima + parte elanguit. Quae ob merita in Dei ecclesiam et Iberniae + regnum collata, cum ejus caput Angli diu frustra impetiverint, + tandem illius interfectori vel deprehensori grandem pecuniae + summam constituerunt, quin etiam tam inexpiabili odio eum + prosequuti sunt ut illius etiam consanguineos labefactare non + destiterint. Ex quibus Thomam MacCrachum antistitis nepotem ex + fratre Thoma deprehensum ad fidem Catholicam deserendam cogere + et praemiis et terrore sunt conati: qua spe dejecti magni et + maxime Catholici animi virum securi percusserunt. Sed quoniam in + episcopi mentionem incidimus, illud ejus magnum atque rarum mirum + nequeo silentio praeterire quod chirographum vix male effingeret, + aliam vero ne litteram quidem unam visus sit unquam scribere, cum + tamen adeo disertus atque sapiens evaserit ut doctor in utroque + jure creatus sacram Theologiam Lovaniae annos aliquot publice sit + professus, quippe tanto ingenii acumine tamque felici memoria + pollebat ut ne discipulus quidem necesse habuerit lectionem + notis excipere, et de doctrina Christiana libellum Ibernice + scriptum posteris reliquerit, cujus praeceptis in hunc usque + diem juventus in ea insula excolitur" (_Hist. Cath._, pag. 223). + +We may now inquire who were the individuals chosen by Elizabeth to hold +the temporalities of Cork and Cloyne during this interval. The first +Protestant bishop of these sees was Richard Dixon, a chaplain of the +Lord Deputy Sydney. The see in 1568 had received a Catholic appointment, +but it was only on the 17th of May, 1570, that Elizabeth wrote to the +Lord Deputy: "We are pleased that Richard Dixon, being by you very well +commended for his learning and other qualities, shall have the bishoprics +of Cork and Cloyne"--(_Morrin_, i. p. 539). Nevertheless, the prelate +thus warmly commended was, on the 7th of March, 1571, sentenced by a +royal commission to perform public penance in the Cathedral of Christ +Church, Dublin, which penance, adds the government record, he went +through in _hypocrisy and pretence of amendment_; wherefore, on the +7th of November following, the same commission proceeded to depose him +from his Protestant episcopal functions, declaring him guilty of public +immorality and other crimes.--(See _Brady Records_, iii. 47). Mathew +Sheyn, or Shehan, was the next episcopal incumbent chosen by Elizabeth: +only two events are commemorated to mark his episcopate: 1. that in +1575 "he leased away the whole see of Cloyne for ever for five marks +per annum"; and 2. that in October, 1578, he made public display of +his impiety by consigning to the flames at the high cross of Cork a +statue of St. Dominick, long held in veneration by the faithful of that +city (_Ibid._, pag. 49). The next Protestant Bishop, William Lyons, +combined in his commission the sees of Cork, Cloyne, and Ross. We have +already spoken of this dignitary under the head of Ross (_Record_, +vol. i. pag. 110-1): we will now only add that his chief enmity seemed +directed against the faithful of Timoleague. Already in 1589 he had +destroyed a portion of its venerable monastery to erect a house with +the materials. In 1612 he resolved to complete his work of destruction; +for intelligence was conveyed to him that a large concourse of Catholics +had assembled there to assist at midnight Mass on the great Christmas +festival. Though advanced in years, he set out with a troop of soldiers +to punish these offenders; however, he had proceeded only a little way +from the city when he was seized with such violent pains throughout his +whole body that he was obliged to desist from his undertaking. During +the five remaining years of his life he displayed less violence against +the Catholics, and to his dying day he retained a lively memory of his +Christmas excursion to Timoleague--(Mooney's _MS. Hist._, p. 49). + + + + +THE CHURCH AND THE BIBLE. + +II. + + +We have seen in a former article that the Catholic Church was the careful +guardian and zealous propagator of the original texts of the inspired +volume. We now proceed to show that her missionaries and her most devoted +sons were most earnest in communicating its sacred truths to all the +faithful, by diffusing throughout the various nations of Christendom +untainted and authentic versions of the Holy Scripture. This assertion +must be proved not by theory but by facts. In producing these facts +our task will be comparatively easy, on account of the many able and +interesting essays which have already been published, in illustration +of this subject. + +At the very time that Luther and his followers were engaged in declaiming +against Holy Church, and in withdrawing so many of her children from the +hallowed fold, the words of a Prophet were first echoed on the shores of +a new world; "quam pulchri pedes evangelizantium pacem, evangelizantium +bona". The losses of the Church in Europe were more than counterbalanced +by her gains among the new nations of America, whose fervour and faith +formed a striking contrast to the frenzy and irreligion of the sophists of +Germany. Now no sooner were these western children summoned to the bosom +of the Church than versions of the Sacred Scripture were made for their +use, in their yet uncouth and unpolished tongues, by the missionaries of +the Cross. "Benedict Fernandez, a Dominican Friar (writes the Protestant +Horne), being appointed Vicar of Mixteca, in New Spain, translated the +Epistles and Gospels into the dialect spoken in that province. Didacus +de S. Maria, another Dominican and Vicar of the province of Mexico (who +died in 1579), was the author of a translation of the Epistles and Gospels +into the Mexican tongue, or general language of the country. The Proverbs +of Solomon and other fragments of the Holy Scriptures were translated +into the same language by Louis Rodriguez, a Spanish Franciscan Friar; +and the Epistles and Gospels appointed to be read for the whole year were +translated into the idiom of the western Indians, by Arnold a Basaccio, +also a Franciscan Friar" (_Introduction_, vol. ii. pag. 120). Besides +these various Mexican versions, there were others which escaped the +researches of Mr. Horne. Thus, for instance, within the past years was +printed the "Evangeliarium, Epistolarium, et Lectionarium Aztecum", +composed nearly three centuries and a half ago by a Spanish Franciscan +named Bernardine Sahagyn. This zealous religious entered on his missionary +career in Mexico about the year 1520, and for sixty years devoted +himself to the spiritual culture of that new vineyard of God. He was not +inattentive at the same time to the literature and ancient monuments +of the Aztec race, and his name is well known to Mexican antiquarians +for his researches regarding the language, history, and antiquities of +the New World. Lord Kingsborough, in the seventh volume of his great +work, published the _Historia Universal de las Cosas de Nueva Espana_, +composed by our Franciscan about the year 1550, and his version of +the Sacred Scripture, when first announced to the literary world, was +thus described by M. Beltram: "J' ai une trouvaille a vous montrer, +la plus interressante, je crois, de toutes celles que vous avez déja +vues ... on y voit un beau reste de l'illustre philanthrope et moine +Bernardino de Sahagun" (_Le Mexique_, vol. ii. pag. 167. Paris, 1830). +Nevertheless, this version was destined to remain still thirty years +a hidden treasure, and it was only in 1858 that its publication was +commenced in Milan by the accomplished Mexican scholar Biondelli. From +the introduction of the learned editor we learn that Bernardino's +version comprised almost all the New Testament and a portion of the +Old, and that its date was anterior to those commemorated by Mr. Horne, +the manuscript from which the text was printed having been copied in +the year 1530. (_See Evangeliarium, etc., ex antiquo codice Mexicano +nuper invento depromptum._ Milan, 1858, 4to, page xlix. 576). + +Returning to the old continent, the first country which we meet is our +own beloved land. Now was the Bible _a sealed Book_ in our Catholic +island, and were our sainted fathers enemies of, or strangers to, its +inspired truths? Oh! ask the great apostle of North England, St. Aidan, +whose disciples, as Bede informs us, "whether they were of the clergy +or of the laity, were bound to exercise themselves either in reading +the Scriptures or in learning the Psalms" (_Hist. Eccl._, iii. 5). Ask +St. Livinus, "who", as his ancient biographer relates, "was trained up +from his youth by his holy Master, Benignus, in singing David's Psalms, +and reading the holy Gospels". Ask St. Columbanus, in whose "breast +the treasures of the Holy Scriptures were so laid up, that within the +compass of his youthful years he set forth an elegant exposition of the +Book of Psalms" (_Vita, cap._ 2); or ask the Northumbrian King Alfred, +of whom Bede again writes that, "residing in Ireland, he imbibed there +celestial wisdom in his attentive soul, and became a man most learned +in the Scriptures: having left his native country and his pleasant +fields, that in diligent exile he might learn the mystery of godliness". +St. Furse, from his youth, was taught to drink in heavenly wisdom at +the sacred source of the inspired volume. St. Columbanus expressly exhorts +his disciple Hunaldus to its diligent study: "Sint tibi divitiae, divinae +dogmata legis" (_epist. ad Hunald._); St. Patrick himself teaches us +that "meditation on the Sacred Scriptures gives strength and vigour +to the soul"; "St. Kieran", as Dr. King learnedly writes, "when thirty +years old, went to Rome and spent there twenty years reading the Divine +Scriptures and collecting copies of them" (_Ch. Hist. of Irel._, i. 323): +and as to St. Columba, we may adopt the words of the Campleton minister, +who in his life of that great saint says: "His passion for studying the +Scriptures was most intense, when the other parts of ministerial duty +allowed him to indulge it. Thus we find him sometimes engaged for whole +days and nights in exploring dark and difficult passages of Scripture, +and accompanying his study and application with prayer and fasting" +(_Life, etc._, by J. Smith, pag. 113). It was in the Latin version that +all these saints usually meditated on the heavenly truths, and Bede +does not hesitate to say that, though the Irish, Britons, Picts, and +Angles had their own peculiar languages, yet, "by the meditation of the +Scriptures", the Latin tongue became common to them all (_Hist. Eccl._, +lib. i. cap. i.). How many noble monuments, too, remain to attest, +at the same time, the artistic taste and the devotion of our Catholic +fathers, in adorning and illustrating the books of Holy Writ! The +_Domhnach Airgid_ is well known to the students of Irish Ecclesiastical +antiquities; it is a MS. copy of the Latin text of the Gospels, described +by Petrie as "perhaps the oldest copy of the Sacred Word now existing" +(_Trans. R. I. A._ xviii. _Antiq._, pag. 17), and which, as Eugene Curry +adds, "we have just reason to believe, was the companion in his hours +of devotion of our Patron Saint, the apostle Saint Patrick" (_Lect._, +pag. 321). This venerable text is encased in three distinct covers, the +first or inner one being of yew, and probably coeval with the manuscript +itself; the second of copper plated with silver whose interlaced +ornaments indicate a period between the sixth and twelfth centuries; +whilst the third or outer one, of the fourteenth century, is of silver +plated with gold, being decorated with relievos of the crucifixion, +of the Blessed Virgin, and the other Patrons of Ireland. Thus are all +the ages of faith in our island, anterior to the Reformation, linked +together in a holy union, to proclaim with one accord the love and +devotion of our Catholic fathers for the inspired text. The _Cathach_, +or vellum Book of Psalms, handed down from St. Columbkille, with its +rich case of solid silver, is scarcely less interesting; and what shall +we say of the Book of Kells, _i.e._, the Latin Gospels of St. Columba, +"a manuscript (as Petrie remarks) which for beauty and splendour is not +surpassed by any of its age known to exist" (_Round Towers_, pag. 203), +and of which Westwood thus writes: "Ireland may justly be proud of +the Book of Kells: it is unquestionably the most elaborately executed +MS. of early art now in existence" (_Palaeog. Sac._). Besides these, +there are _Dimma's Book_ and the _Gospels_ of MacDurnan, the _Psalter_ +of St. Ricemarch, the _Evangeliarium_ of St. Moling, Bishop of Ferns, +and the fragments of several Gospels, rivalling in point of ornament and +accuracy the most precious MSS. of the Continent (_Ibid._). There is one +copy of the sacred text which it is sad to miss from the collections +of our Christian antiquities. It is the so-called Book of Kildare, +which was publicly destroyed by the fathers of Protestantism in this +country, but which has happily been described by Giraldus Cambrensis, a +writer whom none will suspect of bias in favour of our Irish Church. We +will give the original text of his description, which may not, perhaps, +be easily accessible to the reader:-- + + "Inter universa Kyldariae miracula nil mihi miraculosius + occurrit, quam liber ille mirandus, tempore virginis Brigidae + (ut ajunt) Angelo dictante conscriptus. Continet hic liber + quatuor Evangelistarum juxta Hieronymum concordantiam, ubi + quot paginae fere sunt, tot figurae diversae variisque coloribus + distinctissimae. Hic majestatis vultum videas divinitus impressum: + hinc mysticas Evangelistarum formas: nunc senas, nunc quaternas, + nunc binas alas habentes, hinc aquilam, inde vitulum, hinc + hominis faciem, inde bovis, aliasque figuras pene infinitas, + quas si superficialiter et usuali more minus acute conspexeris, + litura potius videbitur quam ligatura; nec ullam attendens + prorsus subtilitatem, ubi nihil tamen praeter subtilitatem. Sin + autem ad perspicacius intuendum oculorum aciem invitaveris, et + longe penitius ad artis arcana transpenetraveris; tam delicatas + et subtiles, tam actas et arctas, tam nodosas et vinculatim + colligatas, tamque recentibus adhuc coloribus illustratas + notare poteris intricaturas, ut vere haec omnia Angelica potius + quam humana diligentia jam asseveraveris esse composita. Haec + equidem quanto frequentius et diligentius intueor, semper quasi + novis obstupeo, semperque magis ac magis admiranda conspicio" + (_Topogr. Hib._, ii. 38, pag. 730). + +Even the continental libraries retain many Scriptural monuments of +the Irish Church, though the designation of Anglo-Saxon MSS. commonly +given to them, has withdrawn them from that careful investigation +which they otherwise would have obtained from our antiquarians: such +are, for instance, the Psalter of St. Ouen, at Rouen; the Gospels of +St. Gatien, at Tours; of Mac Regol, at Oxford; of St. Germain de Pres; +besides the Book of St. Chad, and many others mentioned by Westwood in +his _Palaeographia Sacra_ (London, 1845). The Gospels of St. Boniface, +in Fulda, are now generally supposed to have come from the Irish school: +and equally venerable are the _Evangelia_ of St. Kilian, still preserved +in Würzburg. The last page of this precious text is tinged with the +blood of this great Irish martyr, and on his festival (8th July) it is +still solemnly exposed upon the altar during the celebration of the Holy +Mysteries (See _Appendix A_ to Report on the _Foedera_, published by +the Record Commission, for a long notice and fac-simile of the writing +of this MS.). In Italy, the Book of St. Silas is preserved in his tomb +at Lucca; a fragment of St. Caimin's _Psalter_ may be seen in Rome; +and St. Cathaldus's Gospels are enclosed in his shrine at Tarento. +The library of St. Gall, in Switzerland, possessed for centuries many +old Irish manuscripts, amongst which are mentioned by Von Arx, "_Quatuor +Evangelia; Evang. S. Joannis; Epistolae S. Pauli; liber Prophetarum_; +et plura fragmenta", all which are styled _Codicis Scottici_ in a +catalogue of the ninth century (_Monumenta Germ. Historica._ tom. 2, +pag. 66 et 78). The monastery of Bobbio, however, was distinguished +above all others for the richness of its store of manuscripts: it +was founded by Irish Religious in the seventh century, and for a long +subsequent period was the great literary mart of North Italy, and a +cherished resort of Irish pilgrims. From the present of books made to +this monastery by an Irish ecclesiastic named Dungall, we may judge +how abundant were the Biblical treasures of our island before the tenth +century. The ancient list of these books is published by Muratori, and +it comprises not only the _Evangelium plenarium_, and _Psalterium_, +and other Books of Scripture, but also the commentaries of Origen, +St. Jerome, St. Augustine, St. Gregory the Great, St. Ambrose, Bede, +Cassiodorus, and Albinus; the poems of Fortunatus, Paulinus, Arator, +Prudentius, and Juvencus; the Ecclesiastical History of Hegesippus; +and one work with the curious title, "librum quendam Latine Scotaicae +linguae", which probably means a treatise in Latin on the Irish language +(See Muratori, _Antiqq. Ital._, iii. 818). Such collections of books, +once so abundant in our island, were deliberately pillaged and destroyed, +first by the pagan Danes, and again by the Protestant maligners of +our country, under Henry VIII. and Elizabeth. In a preceding article, +"The See of Cork", we have given a specimen of the Scriptural books +preserved in an humble Franciscan convent in Youghal in 1490; and +Dr. Reeves, in his Essay on the Culdees, gives us a short notice of +another Irish library in the twelfth century, in which the Gospels and +copies of other portions of the Sacred Scripture hold their usual place +(_Transact. of R. I. A._, Dublin, 1864, pag. 249). Even during the sad +era of the desolation of our island, from the twelfth to the sixteenth +century, the labours of Irishmen on the continent in illustrating the +sacred text, won for them a distinguished fame; whilst the testimonies +collected by Boerner (_Le Long_, ii. 369) further prove that at home +a version of the Sacred Scripture into the Irish language was achieved +long before the so called Reformation, being generally attributed to +Richard Fitzralph, Archbishop of Armagh, who died in 1360. We must be +pardoned, if, as we fear, we dwelt too long on the venerable monuments +of our early Church. + +England next claims our attention. Forty years ago a member of its +Established Church did not hesitate to write that during the Catholic +ages, "the Bible was a sealed Book ... there is good reason for +believing that the great mass of men never heard that such a book +was in existence" (Soames' _Hist. of Reformation in England_). Yet +surely it was not so in the ages of Bede and Alcuin. The holy Caedmon +presented to his contemporaries an Anglo-Saxon metrical paraphrase +of the Bible, a portion of which we have seen translated into English +and re-issued from the press in our own days. Fragments of many other +Anglo-Saxon versions have also been preserved, some of which bear the +classic names of _Bede_, _Athelstan_, _Aeldred_, _Aelfric_, and King +Alfred. The publication of these works has long engaged the attention +of our antiquarians, from the early edition by Marshall, in 1665, to +that of Dr. Thorpe, in 1842. After the Norman Conquest, French and Latin +were for three centuries the literary languages of England; no sooner, +however, was the English language formed, than we find it employed in +presenting to the faithful the teaching of the inspired volume. An old +MS. in the Imperial Library of Vienna commemorates an exposition of the +Gospels in the writer's possession, "in vetustissimo Anglico, quod vix +aliquis hominum jam viventium sufficienter intelligeret" (_Appendix A +to Record Commission Report_, pag. 232). Usher in his day referred the +first English version to the year 1290. Trevisa, who died before 1360, +also translated "Biblia Sacra in vernaculam", as Anthony Wood informs us +(_Antiq. Oxon._, ii. 95). It was only some years later that Wicleff's +version appeared; and though some English writers refer it to 1367, +the German Rationalist, Reuss, marks its date as 1380 (_Die Gesch. der +Heilig. Schriften_, Brunswick, 1853). For an interesting and detailed +account of the more recent Catholic translations in English, we must +refer to the learned _General Introduction to the Sacred Scriptures_ +(Dublin, 1852) by our venerated Primate. At present it will suffice +to mention one which is but little known to English biblical readers. +It was the work of an Irish Priest, the Rev. Cornelius Nary, who, +whilst administering the Parish of St. Michan's in the city of Dublin, +found leisure to compose several valuable treatises, and especially +to translate the New Testament from the Latin Vulgate, comparing it +with the original Greek, and with several ancient translations into +other languages. This version was printed in 1718: a few years later +the author's name was on the list of those presented to the Holy See by +the chapter of Dublin, when soliciting a successor to their deceased +Bishop, Dr. Edward Murphy; he died full of years, deeply lamented by his +spiritual children, in 1738. + +Much might be said on the many versions which were made throughout the +continent during the ante-Reformation period. In the French language +there is extant a version of the books of _Kings_ and _Maccabees_, which +is referred by Le Long to the eleventh century. Several MSS. of the +Psalms are also still preserved, which are placed by Wharton as early +as the twelfth century, and Hallam in express terms attests that "we +find translations of the _Psalms_, _Job_, _Kings_, and the _Maccabees_, +into French, in the eleventh or twelfth century". Guyars de Moulins, a +priest and canon of St. Pierre d'Aire, about the year 1290, translated +into French and completed the _Historia Sacra_ of Peter Comestor. This +work is not, as Horne describes it, "a popular abstract of sacred +history", but comprises the historical and moral books of the Old and +New Testament; and we have said that de Moulins completed the work of +Comestor, because his version embraces the whole of the sacred writings +of the Old and New Testament. It was not, however, a mere translation of +the Sacred Scripture; here and there notes and commentaries are added, +and these are found to vary in several MSS., as if they were inserted +to suit the various controversies which arose in the French Church. The +first printed text was the New Testament, which was published in folio, +in Lyons, in 1478, being translated into French by two Augustinian +friars, Julian Macho and Pierre Farget. A copy of this edition is +still preserved in the public library of Leipsic (_Reuss_, pag. 446). +The version of de Moulins was very soon after also printed in a quarto +edition, whilst its _Editio Princeps_, carefully revised by Jean de Rely, +afterwards Bishop of Angers, was published in Paris under the auspices +of Charles VIII., in 1487. It passed through fourteen other editions in +Paris and Lyons alone, before the year 1546. We may also refer to this +ante-Reformation period the version of James Le Fevre, of Estables, who +is better known by his Latin name of Faber Hapulensis, and who undertook +a new translation of the Bible in 1512. This work, especially with the +corrections of the Louvain divines, acquired considerable popularity, +and more than forty different editions of it appeared before the year +1700. Even before any French Protestant version of the Sacred Scripture +appeared, another French Catholic translation was made by Nicholas de +Leuse, a doctor of Louvain, and was printed at Antwerp in 1534. The first +Protestant version was published at Neufchatel in the following year. + +Perhaps in Germany at least, the native land of Protestantism, the holy +Bible was a sealed book to the children of the Catholic Church? No, +it was far otherwise. As early as the tenth century Notker Albulus, +abbot of the monastery of St. Gallus, translated into German the book +of _Psalms_; and a century later most of the other inspired books were +translated by William of Ebersberg, in Bavaria, and other religious +whose names have not been handed down to us (_Reuss_, pag. 439). In the +succeeding centuries several other translations appeared, so much so, +that the author of the Cologne version, printed in 1480, was able to +affirm in his preface that he availed himself "of a variety of different +versions, which were made and circulated both in Lower and Upper Germany, +before printing came into use". The first printed German Bible issued +from the Mentz press in two volumes in folio about 1462. Other editions +seem to have followed soon after; for, in the next earliest edition +which is now known, viz., that of Augsburg, in 1477, the editor was +able to commend the accuracy of his version, and eulogize it "prae +omnibus aliis antea impressis Bibliis Germanicis". So rapid was the +diffusion of the printed text, that from 1477 to 1490, this city of +Augsburg alone gave five different editions. The city of Nuremberg gave +proofs of equal fecundity, having published distinct editions in 1477, +1480, and 1483. The editor of this last edition laid claim to special +elegance of type and accuracy of text, "prae omnibus antea impressis +Germanicis purius, clarius, et verius"; and, it would seem, justly, +for David Clement, who examined the edition, thus describes it: "I saw +that magnificent edition in the library of the Duchess of Nuremberg; +the paper, the ornamented letters, the illuminated figures so well +drawn and engraved around, all so delightful to behold, giving a most +pleasing idea of the degree of perfection to which the art of printing +had already arrived, and this only thirty years after the invention +of movable types". The other chief cities of Germany, Cologne, Lubeck, +Halberstadt, Strasburg, and Mentz, had also their distinct editions; and +before the year 1500--that is to say, many years before the appearance of +Lutheranism--thirty editions of the entire Scriptures were in circulation +in the vernacular language of Germany. + +We will give but a rapid glance at the versions of Poland, Spain, and +Bohemia, that we may be able to devote more space to one country which +is especially dear to every Catholic heart. The first Polish version +was made about 1390, by order of St. Hedwige, wife of the famous Duke +of Lithuania who was chosen king under the name of Ladislaus IV. About +the same time a second translation is said to have been made by Andrew +Jassowitz. Another version of the Psalter, and a fragment of a translation +of the Old Testament made in 1455, are commemorated by Graesse in his +_Litter. Hist._, v. 484. Translations of the Bible into Spanish are +spoken of by the national writers, during the reign of James I. of +Arragon, in the thirteenth century, and again under John II. of Leon, +about 1440. The first printed edition appeared in 1478, and another +edition, of 1515, is referred by Graesse (loc. cit.) to a Carthusian +monk, named Boniface Ferrer. As regards Bohemia, MM. Schaffarik and +Palacky commemorate a translation of the Gospel of St. John, made as +early as the tenth century (_Böhm. Denkm._, an. 1840). A Bohemian +Psalter bears date 1396. Huss in one of his controversial tracts speaks +of the New Testament as already extant in the Bohemian language. The +translation of the whole Bible into Bohemian was achieved at Dresden +in 1410, as Dobrowsky proves (_Slovanka_, Th. 2), and we find printed +editions at Prague in 1488, at Cutna in 1498, and at Venice in 1506 and +1511. Even Denmark had its translation of the Sacred Scriptures, and a +version of the historical books of the Old Testament was made in 1470, +as Molbek and Grimm inform us. + +If, however, the Catholic Church were hostile to the sacred Scriptures, +we should naturally suppose that in Italy, at least, little enthusiasm +should have been displayed in the diffusion of the Bible in the vulgar +tongue; for Italy was more immediately subject to the influence of the +Holy See; in its centre stood the capital of the universal Catholic +world--the new Jerusalem of the Church--the See of Peter. Nevertheless, +of all European countries, Italy was, perhaps, the most remarkable for +the diffusion of the sacred text during the ante-Reformation period. +Jacopo de Voragine, Bishop of Genoa, who died in 1298, was the first to +translate the Scriptures into the Italian tongue, and thus his version +dates before Dante and the other great masters of the language. New +translations by Nicholas de Neritono, of the Dominican Order, Pietro +Arighetto, Cavalca, and others, followed soon after; and so rapid was +the diffusion of the sacred text, that, as Lamy informs us, the archives +of Florence alone contain forty manuscripts belonging to the fourteenth +century, all presenting various portions of the Bible in the Italian +tongue (_De Eruditione App._, page 308, _seqq._). The discovery of the +art of printing was hailed in Italy with special delight. Sweynheyne and +Paunartz, under the auspices of Cardinal Cusa, hastened thither with +the newly-found treasure, and Rome was the first city that welcomed +them within its walls. Various editions of the Bible, the classics, +and the Fathers, soon appeared; indeed, before the year 1500, almost +every city of Italy had one or more printing presses in operation, but, +above all, the names of the great Benedictine monastery of Subiaco, +and the "Palazzo Massimi" in Rome, record to posterity the religious +patronage and princely munificence which welcomed the German artists +to the divinely favoured patrimony of the successors of St. Peter. + +Three editions of the Bible in the Italian tongue appeared in the year +1471. The first bears the name of Nicholas Malermi, a religious of +the Order of Camaldoli. The closing words of the Second volume fix its +precise date: "Impresso fu questo volume nel l'alma patria de Venetia +nell' anno de la salutifera incarnatione del Figliolo de l'eterno +et omnipotente Dio, MCCCCLXXI, in Kalende di Augusto per Vendelino +Spira". This version was subsequently repeated in new editions, and is +still esteemed for the purity of its language, being described by the +latest writer on this subject as written. "vel miglior secolo della +nostra lingua" (Vercellone, _Dissert. Roma_, 1864, pag. 100). The +Second Venetian edition of 1471, was printed "per Nicolo Jenson in +calende di Ottobre", and by some inexperienced modern observers was +supposed to be merely a reprint of the former text: it is, however, +quite distinct, and the best judges of the present day are of opinion +that this version is from the pen of Cavalca, a Tuscan writer of the +golden age, who flourished in the fourteenth century. It is cited 160 +times in the last edition of the Crusca (Florence, 1843), under the +title _Volgarizzamento di Pistole e di Vangeli_, and some manuscripts of +it are extant, which date back to the close of the fourteenth century +(Curioni, "_Sui due Primi Volgarizzamenti_", etc., Milan, 1847; and +Sorio in _Archiv. Eccles._ Firenze, 1864, vol. i. pag. 297). A. third +Italian version appeared in Rome in the same month of October, 1471, +in two volumes folio: many writers have described it as the version of +Malermi; but Maffei, who diligently compared both texts, pronounced it +to be a distinct and independent version. No fewer than eleven complete +editions of these several versions appeared before the year 1500, and +more than forty editions are reckoned before the appearance of the first +Protestant edition of the Bible in the Italian language. Some of these +editions, too, deserve the name of distinct versions, on account of +various alterations and improvements made in the text, and all appeared +under ecclesiastical sanction; thus, for instance, an edition of Venice, +in 1477, bears the name of "Fratre Marino del Ordine di Predicatori, +de la sacra pagina professore umile". + +An entirely new translation from the original text was made by Sanctes +Marmoschini in 1538, and was reprinted in 1546. Another translation, +which appeared in 1547, was remarkable for its poetical version of _Job_ +and the _Psalms_. The translation of Antonio Bruccioli attracted still +more attention. It was made "de la Hebraica veritá", and was ushered +in under the patronage of the French monarch, Francis I., in the month +of May 1532. + +From that date to 1552, twelve editions of this version appeared; but, +though, remarkable for its Tuscan dialect, it was inaccurate in many +passages, for which reason it was condemned by the Council of Trent. The +first Protestant Italian Bible was printed in Geneva as late as 1562, +and was little more than a reprint of Bruccioli's version. About fifty +years later Diodati's Bible appeared, which is rather a Calvinistic +paraphrase than a version; nevertheless, this corruption of Holy Writ +has for two centuries held its place as the great Protestant standard +of orthodoxy. Even in later times the Catholic Church has presented +a new and accurate Italian version to her children, and Anthony +Martini, Archbishop of Florence, by the accuracy of his translation, +the purity of his style, and his admirable explanatory notes, merited +the congratulations and approval of the illustrious Pontiff Pius VI.: +"Beloved Son", writes this great Pope, "at a time when vast numbers of +bad books are being circulated, most grossly attacking the Catholic +Church, to the great destruction of souls, you have judged exceeding +well in exhorting the faithful to the reading of the Holy Scriptures; +for these are most abundant sources, whence every one ought to be in a +position to draw purity of morals and of doctrine, and to eradicate the +errors which are so widely disseminated in these corrupt times. This +you have seasonably accomplished, publishing the sacred writing in the +language of your country, to be understood by all, especially as you +declare that you have added explanatory notes, which, being extracted +from the Holy Fathers, preclude every possible danger of abuse, +etc. Given at Rome on the calends of April, 1778". + +Thus, then, so far from the Church being the enemy of the Bible, +she was its watchful guardian, and ever cherished it as a sacred +treasure. When heresy introduced corruption into the inspired volume, +and substituted the word of man for the Word of God, the pastors of the +Catholic fold fearlessly raised their voice, and warned the faithful +of the snares which were laid for them. When enemies had poisoned the +life-giving stream, the Church permitted not her children to drink +the deadly draught. But in no country, and at no period, was the +Catholic Church the enemy of the Bible; never was its sacred text a +sealed book to the faithful; but, on the contrary, the pastors of the +Church, the divinely constituted guardians of the inspired writings, +were ever zealous in promoting the study of their sacred truths, and in +"disseminating the knowledge of God's written word". + +We now take leave of the learned Earl of Clancarty. Would it be too +much to expect from his candour that he would withdraw the statement +which he has made, since, as we have seen, when viewed historically, it +is false and groundless in itself, whilst at the same time it outrages +the feelings of the whole Catholic Irish nation? + + + + +THE SOCIAL MISSION OF THE CHURCH. + + +The social mission of the Christian Church is a subject to which none +can be indifferent. For eighteen centuries and a half the career of the +Church has remained unchanged; and amid the revolutions of nations and +the migrations of tribes and peoples, her social mission has ever been +to educate, to civilize, and to elevate humanity. The civilization of +the east had languished into decay, the greatness of Greece was merged +in the universal empire of Rome, and the east and the west groaned +under the despotism of the Cæsars. When this new and strange power +appeared upon the earth it was a power insignificant in appearance, +and far beneath even the contempt of the haughty emperors; yet that +little society, these few poor and despised Galileans were destined to +crush the colossus of Paganism, and to erect upon its ruins an empire +more extended than that of Rome, and a civilization more refined and +more enlightened than that of Egypt or of Greece. These few ignorant +men were to purify the philosophy of Greece, to humble the greatness of +Rome, to arrest the wandering tribes of the desert and the savage hordes +of the north, to civilize them and to lead them within the pale of the +Christian Church; slavery was to retire before her influence; the dark +clouds of ignorance and barbarism were to be dispelled by her light; +and arts, learning, and civilization were to flourish under the shadow of +her patronage. Her hands were full of gifts to men; to the slave she was +the herald of freedom, to the ignorant she was the bearer of knowledge, +and to all she was the teacher of a pure and elevated morality, unknown +to the pagan world. Such was the social mission of the Christian Church; +how nobly has she fulfilled it! + +In three centuries, after persecutions the most dire, the Christian +Church won her way from the gloom of the catacombs to the imperial throne +of Rome. The hand of power sought to check her progress, but in vain; +the sword of persecution raised against her fell from the hand of the +tyrant; the insidious breath of heresy could not corrupt her purity, +nor the splendid teachings of Athens or Alexandria draw her from her +sublime mission of truth. She consoled the slave, she cheered and +strengthened the martyr, she elevated and purified all; she struggled +with Paganism--with its profane and captivating rites--with its proud +philosophy and its millions of refined and luxurious votaries. She won +disciples from every grade, and class, and nation, until Christianity +became the national religion of the proud and persecuting empire of +the Cæsars. But now, that very empire which the Church has won is +tottering to ruin; new difficulties beset her, and a new mission awaits +her. The Goth, the Hun, and the Vandal have seized on the richest +provinces of Rome. Her cities lie in ruins, her temples are profaned, +and Europe seems again fast sinking into hopeless barbarism; the clash +of arms and the yell of triumph has silenced the voice of civilization, +and the jargon of her rude conquerors startles the ear in the very +streets of Rome; streams of human population pour in from the northern +nations--they extinguish the Roman power, and carry into the heart of +Europe new traditions, a new mythology, new habits of thought, and new +principles of action. And whilst the north was thus violently convulsed +by the crash of the western empire, the south was not less violently +agitated by the rising greatness of the Saracen. From the Atlantic to +the Pacific the sway of Omar extended; and many were the cities ruined, +and many were the literary monuments destroyed by these untamed children +of the desert. In such perils what is able to save--what spirit could +brood over this social chaos and breathe into it order and beauty--what +power could move in the track of the desolating host, could collect +the half ruined fragments of classic art and construct them again into +a still more beautiful temple of learning? What influence could wean +that lawless race from the wild ways of rapine and the degrading vices +of savage life, and make them rival and excel the polished Roman in all +the arts and accomplishments of civilized life? The Church alone could +arrest the onward march of barbarism, and restore social order; with +prophetic glance she seemed conscious of the perils that beset her, and +prepared to overcome them. Augustine, Jerome, Hilary, and Prosper, the +last expiring lights of the past civilization, were the devoted children +of the Church. In the sixth century, when the schools of the empire +were closed, her monasteries were the sole sanctuaries of learning. In +them she studied and taught, and opposed an organised resistance to +the despotism of the sword, whilst her secular clergy acted, governed, +and preserved external order. In this century St. Remus preached with a +classic purity, and Avitus of Vienne, the Milton of the Church, sang of +the creation and the fall in the thrilling accents of genius. In this +period appeared Cesarius of Arles, Gregory of Tours, and Fortunatus +of Poitiers, whose learning shed a light upon their age, and whose +works marked the birth of a new literature purely ecclesiastical. The +learning and sanctity of our own Church relieved the darkness of the +seventh century. Columbanus awakened a new spirit in the French Church, +he arrested the march of barbarism in southern Germany, and perpetuated +the study of antiquity among his numerous disciples. The eighth century +marked a new era in letters; Charlemagne and the Church vied with each +other; Bede and Bennett adorned England; the Carlovingian schools were +organized under the genius of Alcuin, and over the wide dominions +of Charlemagne an impulse was given to learning which was felt for +centuries. By her Popes, her councils, and her bishops, the Church +ever laboured to diffuse knowledge amongst her people. With a willing +obedience her monastic institutions responded to her call, and during +the eleventh and twelfth centuries awakened a literary activity from the +Tiber to the Atlantic. The wonders of the press were yet unknown, but the +simple, learned, and laborious monk plied his daily task, and rivalled +the press in the extent, variety, and beauty of his labours. These +venerable institutions, so often the scorn of the ignorant, were +rapidly multiplied over the whole continent of Europe; Clugny and +Citeaux spring into life, and each becomes a school of knowledge, a +centre of civilization, and a prolific nursery of saintly and learned +men. Let the sceptic on this point read Mabillon's book on monastic +studies, in reply to De Rancé, the venerable Abbot of La Trappe; let +him examine the collection of manuscripts found in the eight hundred +monasteries visited by Martini in his literary tours; let him look at +the contents of the fourteen volumes folio, compiled by Martini and +the illustrious band who accompanied him in his antiquarian researches +through the monasteries of central Europe; let him glance at the Titan +labours of Mabillon, Montfaucon, and the Benedictines of St. Maur; and +then let him dilate on the stupidity and ignorance of the monks of the +"dark ages". Thus, by the zeal of the Church, and her monks and her +missioners, the Christian faith was again spread over Europe, Saxon +England was reconquered to the Church, Clovis and his people entered +her fold, Germany was won over to her empire, and the fierce children +of the north everywhere bowed to her yoke. Their minds, filled with the +dim shadows of their native traditions and the bloody deeds of their +ancestors, became awakened to all the beauties of Christianity; they +yielded to the softening influence of the more genial climate of their +conquered home, they cast off the bonds of their gloomy superstition, +they entered the Church, and under her guidance they became the founders +of the nations and the authors of the mediaeval and modern literature +of Europe. The Church moulded with the same skilful hand the sternness +and energy of the north, and the more soft and imaginative races of the +south, and united the fierce worshippers of Thor with the followers of +the giddy Genii of the east, in one grand struggle for the glory of +their common creed. She summoned the spirit of chivalry, then in its +youthful vigour; she excited a glow of religious enthusiasm that set +Europe in a flame; she appealed to the spirit of warlike enterprise, +and gathered round her standard that group, who, quitting home, +country, and friends, arose at the call of Urban, and put on the badge +of the crusader. Yes, the crusades are a great fact in the history +of modern civilization; they stilled the voice of domestic strife, +which had been productive of so much evil; they united, elevated, +and consecrated the chivalry of Europe, and exhibited to the world the +power and the glory of religion. These were days of great excitement +and of rapid progress; this was the age of the growth and ascendancy +of the scholastic philosophy. The Arabic empire of Spain was in its +meridian glory. It was in this age Peter preached, and the Cross was +raised at Clermont, and Godfrey and Boemond rushed to the liberation of +the sacred city. It was in this age the glorious Hildebrand laboured so +successfully to eject feudal influence from the sanctuary, to abolish +the baneful right of lay investiture, and to give to the Church ministers +worthy of their sublime duties. It was in these days the Italian cities +were fostered by the protection of the Papal power, and the leagued +towns of Germany under their bishops; and the municipal councils were +breaking down feudal tyranny, and opening to the peasant mind the path +to political and literary distinction, which they have since so nobly +trod. In the ninth century Hamburg was the stronghold of tyranny; in +the eleventh and twelfth centuries this same city was the nucleus of +a great confederation which for centuries influenced the destinies of +Europe. In the thirteenth century the spirit of Bernard and Hildebrand +was again revived. The genius, the sanctity, the learning, and the +courage of Innocent III. guided the destinies of the Church. Rodolph, +with the Cross for his sceptre, ruled in Germany; St. Louis governed +France; Spain gloried in Alphonso and Ferdinand, and in the victories +of Seville and Tolosa; and England, under a Cardinal of the Roman +Church, wrung from her king the charter of her rights. This was the +age of St. Francis and St. Dominick; of Albertus and St. Thomas, +of Bacon and Bonaventure. In these days Oxford boasted of her thirty +thousand students; twenty-five thousand trod the halls of Paris; and +ten thousand read law at Bologna. Never was there an age more glorious +than this age of Christian faith; glorious in great deeds and historic +names; glorious in learning and life of the universities with which +the Church had studded Europe; glorious in a noble Christian art and +architecture; and glorious too in the sublime genius of its poets. And +all these great movements, intellectual and social, all pregnant with +such grand results for the happiness and enlightenment of mankind, and +for the future greatness and civilization of the nations of Europe, +were originated and guided to success by the genius of the Catholic +Church. The Church was that mysterious power that moulded the nations, +and influenced the social condition of successive generations over +the whole continent. In the lawless ages of rapine and violence she +stood between the tyrant and his victim, and restrained the excesses +of feudalism by the sword of her spiritual authority. She was ever +the protector of the weak, and the defender of rational liberty. In +the words of an eloquent Protestant writer, "The Church was the great +bulwark of order, she perpetuated justice and light, and fought the +battle of civilization and freedom. The feudal castle could not screen +the oppressor of the poor from her vengeance, nor the kingly diadem save +the tyrant of his people from her stern maledictions; the Church presided +over mediaeval society; her Pontiff reigned with an universal sway, +with which the grateful suffrage of Europe invested him; and never was +human power exercised with more justice or with more glorious results +for the welfare of humanity". And this is the Church which her enemies +would shamelessly brand as hostile to the diffusion of knowledge; this +the Church that would restrain the freedom of human thought, perpetuate +ignorance, and dwarf the intellect of man; the Church of Nicholas, of +Leo, and of Benedict; the Church that presided over the revival of Greek +learning, and saved the decaying fragments of classic genius; the Church +that before the sixteenth century founded fifty-eight universities in +Europe, and from her poverty encouraged learning with a munificence which +should shame the nations of our day! The Catholic Church cultivated the +mind of Petrarch, she inspired the genius of Dante, and listened to the +thrilling tones of Ariosto. Calderon was her child, and Tasso loved to +linger in her capital. Yes, this is the Church that would dwarf the human +intellect! Gothic architecture is her own creation, and the glories of +Italian art were developed in the shadow of the Vatican. The palace of +Nicholas and of Leo was the temple of learning, and the gifted of every +nation flocked to the city of the pontiffs to live in the smile of his +favour and on the munificence of his bounty. In his presence the poet +felt a new inspiration, the sculptor breathed life into the marble, and +the magic pencil of Italy imparted to its matchless productions a more +than divine beauty. The same ear that was charmed with the strains of +Ariosto could listen with approval to the researches of Flavio or the +sublime theories of Copernicus. The Pope during the middle ages was the +great high priest of literature, of science and of art, enthroned by +the suffrage of Europe; the learned of the age paid to him the tribute +of their grateful affection; and the office of his secretary was for +centuries regarded as the prize of genius, which the first scholars of +the age claimed as the reward of their intellectual greatness. + + + + +LITURGICAL QUESTIONS. + + +Our reverend correspondents on liturgical subjects will hold us excused +if we are not able to answer the several questions kindly forwarded to +us, as we deem it our duty, in compliance with the request of several +friends, to treat of some questions in connection with the ceremonies +of Holy Week, which may be deemed useful for the guidance of the clergy +in carrying on the solemn functions of that week. + +The following questions have been proposed: + +1. Can a low Mass be said on the three last days of Holy Week? + +2. Can a low Mass be said on Holy Thursday or on Holy Saturday? + +3. What is to be done in the country parishes where there is not a +sufficient number of priests to have high Mass, and where the other +ceremonies cannot be observed? + +In reply to the first question we beg to say that low Masses are +strictly forbidden on the three last days of Holy Week. When there is +a sufficient number of priests, the rubrics require that a solemn high +Mass be celebrated, and in those churches not having a sufficient number +of priests for high Mass the Memoriale Rituum of Benedict XIII. must +be used, which prescribes certain solemnities to be observed by one +priest, and requires that he be attended by at least three clerics in +surplices, in performing the functions of Holy Week. This ceremonial of +Benedict XIII. is to be observed only in case there is a deficiency of +priests, and hence it presupposes that a solemn Mass is to be said with +deacon and sub-deacon when they can be had, as the Memoriale Rituum was +published by order of Benedict XIII. solely with the view of enabling +the clergy in the smaller churches to carry out the ceremonies of Holy +Week, and accordingly, in reply to various questions as to private +Masses on those three days, we find that the answer invariably was, +that the ceremonies were to be carried out "servata forma parvi Ritualis +S. M. Benedicti XIII., ann. 1725, jussu editi". + +2. Thus the following answer was given by the Sacred Congregation of +Rites (4904): + + 1. "An in Ecclesiis Parochialibus in quibus nullus extat clerus + sed solum Parochus, possit vel debeat iste facere Benedictionem + Candelarum, Cinerum, Palmarum, novi ignis, Cerei Paschalis, Fontis + Baptismalis et coeterorum hujusmodi, necnon instituere officium + Feriae quintae in Coena Domini et Feriae sextae in Parasceve + sine cantu et solum privata voce prout celebratur Missa privata? + + "Ad 1. Servetur parvum Caeremoniale a sa. me. Benedicto Papa + XIII. ad hoc editum. Die 23, Maii, 1846". + +This applies to the last three days of Holy Week; but can a low Mass be +said on one of these days, such as Holy Thursday? There are innumerable +decrees of the Sacred Congregation of Rites on this subject, and it +would be impossible to quote all: we shall give one or two. Thus on +the 31st August, 1839, the question was proposed: + + "An in Ecclesiis ubi Functiones Majoris hebdomadae fieri nequeunt, + Feria quinta celebrari possit Missa lecta. Negative". + +And again: + + 1. "An toleranda sit consuetudo vigens in quibusdam paroeciis, + praesertim in ruralibus celebrandi per parochum Missam lectam + Feria V. in Coena Domini quin peragi valeant eadem Feria, et + sequenti coeterae Ecclesiasticae functiones praescriptae ob + clericorum defectum, vel potius obolenda. + + * * * * * + + 3. "An ad eliminandos abusus, siqui irrepserint, sit consulendum + Sanctissimo pro revocatione cujuscumque Indulti celebrandi + privatim eamdem Missam, (idest in Sabbato Sancto) firmo tamem + remanente singulari privilegio aliquibus Ecclesiis, peculiaribus + attentis circumstantiis, concesso unam vel alteram Missam lectam + celebrandi post unicam solemnem de die? + + "Ad. 1. Affirmative et ad mentem: mens est ut locorum ordinarii + quoad Paroecias in quibus haberi possunt tres, quatuorve saltem + Clerici Sacras Functiones Feriis V. et VI. ac Sabbato majoris + hebdomadae peragi studeant, servata forma parvi Ritualis S. M. + Benedicti XIII. anno 1725, jussu editi; Quoad alias paroecias + quae Cleris destituuntur, indulgere valeant ob populi commoditatem, + ut Parochi (petita quotannis venia) Feria V. in Coena Domini Missam + lectam celebrare possint, priusquam in Cathedrali vel Matrice + Conventualis incipiat. Et ad D. Secretarium cum Sanctissimo. + + "Ad. 3. Affirmative juxta votum videlicet--Consulendum Sanctissimo + pro revocatione cujuscumque Indulti celebrandi privatim in Sabbato + Sancto, firmo tamen singulari privilegio aliquibus Ecclesiis, + peculiaribus attentis circumstantiis, concesso, unam vel alteram + Missam lectam celebrandi post unicam Solemnem de die prout in + dubio, Die 28 Julii, 1821". + +With reference to the first decision, it is to be remarked, how the +observance of the Memoriale Rituum is inculcated, and that even in +case the clerics cannot be had, the parish priest cannot celebrate a +low Mass unless he gets permission to do so from the bishop each year +(petita quotannis venia), and we may here observe that the only reasons +which would warrant the bishop to grant permission for a low Mass on +Holy Thursday, are two: first, to give an opportunity to the faithful +of making their Easter Communion; and second, to give Communion to the +sick. In these two circumstances the bishop can give permission for a +low Mass, if he thinks it necessary, on Holy Thursday, but the parish +priest, or, much less, any other priest, cannot say Mass even in these +circumstances, without the permission sought and obtained every year +from the bishop (venia quotannis petita). + +Gardellini, in a very valuable dissertation on this decree, has the +following words: "Rem tamen noluit in Parochorum ruralium arbitrio +relinquere, sed demandavit ut iidem quotannis et peterent et ab episcopo +celebrandi veniam obtinerent". In another passage he (Gardellini) +quotes the authority of Benedict XIV., who, when Archbishop of Bologna, +had granted permission to some of the parish priests to say a low Mass +under the circumstances above referred to, and then he adds: + + "Praeter parochum in sua parochia, si sacerdos aliquis cujuscumque + conditionis aut dignitatis Missam privatam Feria quinta, sexta, + ac Sabbato majoris hebdomodae celebrare ausus fuerit, ipsum + graviter puniemus et a Divinis etiam interdicemus". + +With regard, however, to Holy Saturday, the case is quite different. For +a private Mass cannot now be celebrated on that day without a special +indult from the Holy See, as appears from a decree of the 11th March, +1690: + + "Firmo in reliquis remanente praedicto decreto edito die 11 + Februarii nempe in Sabbato Sancto celebrationes Missarum privatarum + omnino prohibentur in quibuscumque Ecclesiis et oratoriis privatis, + non obstante quacumque contraria consuetudine, et unica tantum + Missa Conventualis una cum officio ejusdem Sabbati sancti + celebretur". + +Gardellini, in his dissertation already mentioned, speaking of this +decree, says: + + "Quum autem hoc Decretum Summus Pontifex sua auctoritate + firmaverit et ope typorum evulgari jusserit, vim habet legis + universalis quae relaxari nequit nisi ab eo a quo lata est". + +It is plain, therefore, that there is a great difference between Holy +Thursday and Holy Saturday, as to the question of low Masses. With regard +to Holy Thursday, the bishop may allow it in certain circumstances, +but not so on Holy Saturday. This difference is evidenced in the fact, +that if a holiday of obligation fall on Holy Thursday, it is to be +observed, and some low Masses are permitted, so that the people may +fulfil the precept of hearing Mass. But if the holiday fall on Holy +Saturday or Good Friday, it is transferred to another day, together +with the obligation of hearing Mass, and no private Masses are allowed. + +We now come to the last question, which is one of a practical character, +and which must be treated as such. The Memoriale Rituum lays down most +distinctly all the directions for the due performance of the ceremonies +in Holy Week when there is not a sufficient number of priests to carry +them on with the solemnity prescribed by the Missal. In the preface +it states that it was ordered by Pope Benedict XIII., and published +"ut Minorum Ecclesiarum Rectores minime vel perstrictus Parochialium +Clericorum numerus detineat, vel insuetorum Rituum anfractus deterreat". +Hence in the same preface it charges the parish priest to instruct three +or four clerics in the ceremonies, "ut sacrae actiones, si nequeant +solemniter, decenter saltem peragantur". This is the first point to be +attended to, namely, to appoint three or four youths and train them in +the manner of performing the ceremonies. This at first may appear to +cause great inconvenience and trouble, but it is well known to those +who have tried the experiment how quickly well disposed youths learn +such matters, and what taste they even display in arranging the altars, +etc., considering the opportunities within their reach. + +2. But, as far as we know, the chief difficulty which is usually made +is, that they cannot do anything in the country districts in the +way of singing the hymns and the psalms. This, no doubt, would be an +insurmountable difficulty in many instances; but the Memoriale Rituum of +Benedict XIII. does not require music or singing. It requires the priest +and the youths to recite, and to do so "aequa vocum concordia" (_vide_ +Memoriale Rituum). If the parish priest could have the singing, it would, +of course, be most desirable and very edifying, but not at all necessary. + +3. The Memoriale Rituum requires for Holy Thursday an altar set apart +from the high altar at which the ceremonies are performed, which is +called the altar of repose, and which is to be decorated and adorned +with the greatest pomp. There is not much difficulty in complying with +this particular, which is clearly pointed out by the Rubrics of the +Missal; and we may here observe that we have heard with surprise that +the altar of repose on Holy Thursday in some Churches is the same as +the high altar, and not distinct from it, where the ceremonies could +and ought to be carried out with the greatest solemnity and accuracy. + +4. The Memoriale Rituum enters into many details about the function of +Good Friday and Holy Saturday, and for this latter day many things are +to be procured by the parish priest which are clearly laid down in the +Missal and the Memoriale so often referred to. We deem it unnecessary +to mention all the details, particularly as while we are writing on +these subjects we have been favoured with a copy of a letter of his +Grace the Archbishop of Dublin to the clergy of his diocese, which +we annex here as confirming our views on these points, and also as a +summary of what we have been stating in this article. + + +PAULUS, + +_Dei et Apostolicae sedis gratia, Archiepiscopus Dublinensis, etc., +Venerabili Clero Dublinensi Tam Saeculari quam Regulari_. + + +Maximi momenti esse ut leges ecclesiasticae ad sacras caeremonias +peragendas spectent, accuratissime observentur, nemo est qui ignoret. +Itaque, cum Nobis relatum fuerit in quibusdum hujus dioecesis Ecclesiis +quasdam leges rituales praecipue ad hebdomadam sanctam spectantes, +diversam et variam interpretationem accipere, adeoque in omnibus eandem +disciplinam non vigere, cum que maximopere optandum sit ut non tantum +idem spiritus sed et eadem agendi ratio ubique servetur, nostrim +uneris esse existimavimus pauca quaedam que ad unitatem promovendam +opportuna videntur, in omnium memoriam revocare, non quasi nova aliqua +decernentes, sed eo tantum fine ut quam accuratissime Ecclesiae leges +jam latae observentur. Haec vero sunt quae ab omnibus servari volumus:-- + +1mo. In oratoriis domesticis, missa celebranda non est in Feria Quinta in +Coena Domini, neque in duobus sequentibus diebus, neque in die Paschatis. + +2do. In Feria quinta praedicta, unica tantum celebrandi est Missa in +singulis Ecclesiis, quae solemnis aut conventualis esse debet. In ea +vero Missa clerus qui ad ecclesiam spectat, Communionem inter Missarum +solemnia a manu celebrantis recipere debet, juxta veterem et constantem +Ecclesiae usum. + +3tio. Altare in quo reponendum est SS. Sacramentum, quod Feria Sexta in +Missa Praesanctificatorum sumi debet a celebrante, omni cura ornandum +est. Caeterum, Sacra Hostia includenda est in capsula, seu in sepulchro, +ut vulgo dicitur, quod clave a sacerdote custodienda claudi debet, nec +licet sacram Hostiam ita exponere ut videatur a fidelibus. + +4to. In die Sabbati Sancti unica tantum celebrari potest Missa, que +solemnis esse debet, vel celebrata ad normam Caeremonialis Benedicti +XIII. + +5to. Monendi sunt fideles a confessariis et a Concionatoribus praeceptum +quo tenentur sacram communionem tempore paschali recipere, adimpleri +non posse nisi in propria cujusque Ecclesia Paroeciali, excepto casu +quo habeatur dispensatio ab episcopo, vel proprio parocho. + +6to. Die Paschatis, in Ecclesiis, quae paroeciales non sunt, vetitum +omnino est Sacram Communionem fidelibus dispensare, sive privatim, sive +publice. + +7to. Quod vero spectat ad eos qui vivunt in communitate, ut, e.g., in +Conventibus et Monasteriis, in Collegiis et Seminariis ecclesiasticis, +Communionem Paschalem tam ipsi quam eorum famuli, in propriis sacellis +aut ecclesiis sumere possunt. + +8to. In singulis Ecclesiis paroecialibus Sabbato Sancto benedicendi +sunt fontes baptismales secundum ritum in Missali Romano praescriptum. + +9to. Vetera Olea ad eos benedicendos adhibenda non sunt; quare, omnibus +cavendum est, ut nova olea die antecedenti, ad eum finem petant. Olea +vero sacra a laicis deferenda non sunt, sed a Sacerdotibus, a quibus +etiam diligenter in loco tuto et clave obserrato semper custodienda sunt. + +10to. Si qua in Ecclesia plures Sacerdotes ad sacras caeremonias +peragendas haberi non possint, et unicus tantum adsit, servari debet, +in hac hebdomada sancta ceremoniale editum jussu Benedicti XIII., +pro minoribus ecclesiis, quod nuper in hac urbe in lucem prodiit ex +typographia Domini Jacobi Duffy. + +11mo. Organa quae pulsantur dum cantatur Gloria in excelsis in Missa +Feriae Quintae in Coena Domini, silere postea debent donec initium fiat +ejusdem hymni angelici in Missa Sabbati Sancti. + +12mo. Campana silere eodem temporis spatio omnino debent. + +Caeterum, omnes Parochos et Ecclesiarum Regularium Superiores in Domino +rogamus ut, ea que hic praescripta sunt, quam accuratissime observari +curent, atque eo zelo quo pro gloria Dei et disciplinae ecclesiasticae +observantia flagrant, operam diligentissime navent, ut non solum in hac +Sacra Hebdomade, verum etiam per totius anni curriculum, omnes sacrae +caeremoniae et ritus ab Ecclesia sanciti, ea qua convenit dignitate et +decore, qui domum Dei decet, peragantur. + + [+] PAULUS CULLEN. + +_Dat. Dublini, Die 5 Aprilis, 1857._ + + + + +DOCUMENTS. + + +I. + +MONITA TO PROFESSOR UBAGHS, BY THE S. CONGREGATION OF THE INDEX.[1] + + +_Folium primum anni 1843, de quo sermo est in epistola ad Episcopos +Belgii ab Eminentissimo Cardinali Patrizi, secretario S. Inquisit. data +d. 11 oct. 1864._ + +R. D. Ubaghs, docet in Theodicea et interdum etiam in Logica sequentes +propositiones, quas S. Congregatio Indici praeposita emendandas esse +judicat. + +I. "Haud posse nos in cognitionem cujusvis externae metaphysicae +veritatis venire (nempe quae respiciat ea quae sub sensus nostros non +cadunt), absque alterius instructione, ac in ultima analysi absque +divina revelatione". + +Porro haec doctrina admitti nequit, quia sicut veritates internae et +mathematicae cognosci possunt operatiocinii, ut ipsemet auctor fatetur, +ita saltem possibile est veritates externas assequi, quotiescumque +necessario cum internis connectuntur; aut cum ipsae internae consistere +nequeunt non supposita aliqua veritate externa. + +II. "Veritates externas metaphysicas demonstrari non posse". Vide +_Theod._, pag. 220, n. 413 et seq. + +Jam vero veritates externae quandoque cum internis necessario copulantur, +tanquam effectus cum causa, et ideo per hanc connexionem demonstrari +possunt eo genere argumenti quod a posteriori vocatur, cujus certitudo +non minor illa est, quae per demonstrationem _a priori_ obtinetur. + +III. "Dei existentiam minime demonstrari posse, Deum existere demonstrari +posse negamus". _Theod._, pag. 73. + +Quae importuna doctrina ultro fluit ex opinionibus jam indicatis ipsius +auctoris. + +IV. "Probationes existentiae Dei reduci ad quandam fidem, aut fundari in +hac fide, qua non tam videmus quam credimus, seu naturaliter persuasum +nobis est, ideam hanc esse fidelem, id quod evidentia mere interna +cernere non possumus". _Theod._, pag. 73. + +Quae verba significare videntur potius credi quam demonstrari Dei +existentiam, quod quidem a vero omnino distat. + +V. "Auctor omnes probationes veritatum externarum metaphysicarum reducit +ad sensum communem". + +Quae doctrina admitti nequit, eo quod aliquae veritates externae +demonstrantur _a posteriori_ per veritates internas, absque illa relatione +ad sensum communem. Ita habentes conscientiam nostrae existentiae, +directe inferimus existere causam quae nobis existentiam contulerit; +seu ab una veritate interna deducimus aliam veritatem externam absque +interventu sensus communis. + +Hae sunt praecipuae sententiae, quae in praedicto libro corrigendae +videntur. Monet igitur S. Cong. Rev. auctorem ut nova aliqua editione +librum emendandum curet atque interim in scholasticis suis lectionibus +ab iis sententiis abstinere velit. + + +_Folium alterum de quo sermo est in epistola Eminentissimi Cardinalis +Patrizi._ + +Pauca quaedam loca in opere quod a cl. viro G. C. Ubaghs a. 1841 Lovanii +editum est et inscribitur _Theodicea_, seu _Theologiae naturalis +elementa_, adnotanda esse videntur, ut doctissimus auctor additis +quibusdam illustrationibus obortas circa ejusdem operis intelligentiam +difficultates e medio tollere possit. Ac 1º quidem memoranda sunt illa +quae pag. 73 habentur de Dei existentia: "Deum existere demonstrari posse +negamus, sed id certo certius probari etiam atque etiam affirmamus". +Omnis certe ambiguitas ex hoc loco tolleretur, si post vocem _demonstrari_ +adderetur _a priori,_ quod conveniret cum iis quae tradit auctor in +_Logica_, p. 114, ed. tertia, de demonstrationis divisione, ubi ostendit +contra Kantianos demonstrationem a posteriori, jure ac merito veram +demonstrationem vocari. Auctor etiam, ibid. p. 105, haec habet: +"Demonstrare, si stricte intelligitur, idem est ac probare judicium certo +esse sicut effertur". Nemo autem negabit probationes existentiae Dei eam +vim habere, ut respondeant notioni strictae demonstrationis quae hic a +cl. auctore traditur. + +2º Ubi auctor ad examen vocat diversa argumentorum genera, quae ad Dei +existentiam demonstrandam afferri solent, quaedam habet quae observatione +digna videntur. _Theod._, pag. 86, de argumentis physicis loquens ait: +"Et licet tum recta ex rationalis naturae impulsu, etc., probari posset +eumdem esse potentia et intelligentia vere infinita, illud tamen ex +argumentis physicis solis et stricte spectatis secundum leges logicas +effici nequit". Pag. 87, de argumentis quae moralia dicuntur ita +se exprimit: "In his solis veram Dei infinitatem expresse contentam +esse, strictis logicae legibus nondum plane efficitur". Additis porro +quibusdam de argumento ex ente infinito, concludit: "Fide naturali et +spontanea quadam progressione continua suppleamus in quod ad accuratam +Dei notionem concipiendam, et ad veri Dei existentiam plene probandam +illi soli probationi logicae, si strictissime acciperetur, deesse +videretur". Tandem p. 89 legimus: "Probabiles quidem conjecturas facere +de prima causa vel de primis causis (nesciremus utique, utrum una aut +plures dicendae essent) deque earum proprietatibus possemus". In his +omnibus mens doctissimi auctoris paulo clarius explicanda videtur, +ne quis inde occasionem sumat vim elevandi argumentorum quae Dei +existentiam demonstrant. + +3º Clarissimus auctor, cap. 7, p. 3 _Theod._, profitetur se "magis +speciatim ac si fieri possit, paulo apertius _declarare velle_ ea quae +ad veritatem cognoscendam spectant". Quaedam tamen ibi leguntur, de +quorum intelligentia dubitationes oriri possent. Pag. 216, haec habentur: +"Veritatem internam immediate cognoscere possumus, externam non sine +interposita fide". Et pag. 219: "_Necesse est_ ... ut institutio aliena +nobis manifestas faciat veritates quae nec mere animi affectiones +sunt, nec sub sensus nostros externos cadunt". Plura alia ejusdem +generis ibi obvia sunt, quae contra mentem auctoris forte in alienos +sensus torqueri possent, et ad id adhiberi, ut vis humanae rationis +extenuaretur, et argumenta quae pro veritatibus externis demonstrandis +adhibentur ita infirmarentur, ut certitudinem illam minime afferrent, +quae in iis homini omnino necessaria est. + + +II. + +RESCRIPT OF THE S. CONG. OF RITES TO THE BISHOP OF ST. BRIEUC ON THE +FORM OF SURPLICE TO BE WORN IN ADMINISTERING THE SACRAMENTS. + + +REVERENDISSIME DOMINE UTI FRATER, + +Praecipuas curas quas Amplitudo Tua religiosissime impendere non cessat +ut iterum assumpta liturgia romana in ista tot nominibus commendabili +Briocensi diocesei integra servetur, non solum quoad rationem divinorum +officiorum et sacrosancti missae sacrificii, verum etiam in reliquis vel +functionibus ecclesiasticis, vel sacris caeremoniis, dum SS. D. N. Pius +Papa IX. et Sacra Rituum Congregatio cum gaudio comperiunt, Amplitudinis +Tuae zelum, et erga hanc sanctam apostolicam Sedem devotionem promeritis +laudibus, commendatione, praecipua extollunt. Cum vero impraesentiarum +Amplitudo Tua exponat, num, attentis addictissimi tui cleri votis, +recedere liceat a prudenter a te decretis de anno 1848 pridie idus +decembris quoad vestes adhibendas a sacerdotibus choro interessentibus +quin canonicali titulo sint insigniti, itemque in sacramentorum +administratione; ac proinde permittere _ut utantur cotta cum alis_, vel +_rochetto manicis destituto_, Sanctissimus item Dominus, cui fideliter +per me infra scriptum Sacrorum Rituum Congregationis prosecretarium +litterae Amplitudinis Tuae relatae fuerunt, per particulares hasce +litteras Amplitudini Tuae significandum praecepit, ut qua polles +religione et eloquio allabores, ut praescripta cotta cum manicis +largioribus juxta romanum morem omnino in choro utantur qui non sunt +canonici, quam tamen ad extremitates textili pinnato, vel alio ornatu +acu picto decorare liceat: verum in sacramentorum administratione +cotta cum stola, uti plura exigunt decreta et rituale requirit, omnino +adhibenda est. + +Dum ita SS. D. N. mentem Amplitudini Tuae aperio, eidem diuturnam +exopto felicitatem. + + Romae, 12 februarii 1852. + + Amplitudinis tuae, uti Frater, A card. LAMBRUSCHINI, S. R. C. P. + +LOCUS [+] SIGILLI. + + +III. + +RESCRIPT OF THE S. CONG. OF INDULGENCES. + +Inter dubia _de Translatione festorum_, quae N. huic Sacrae Congregationi +Indulgentiarum obtulerat enodanda, sequens propositum est: + +Utrum Indulgentiam alicui festo adjunctam lucretur quisquis die ipsa +juxta Kalendarium Breviarii Romani, vel potius juxta Kalendarium +uniuscujusque dioecesis, Ordinis, etc. Item qui sodalitati cuicumque +nomen dederunt an Indulgentias acquirant die in qua festum celebratur +in Ordine regulari ad quem attinet dicta sodalitas, licet sit diversa +a die Kalendarii Romani, vel dioecesani? + +Sacra Congregatio Indulgentiis sacrisque Reliquiis praeposita, in +generalibus comitiis habitis apud Vaticanas aedes die 29 augusti 1864, +praeviis consultorum votis, et re mature discussa, respondit: + +"Indulgentiam acquiri a Christifidelibus die fixa et rite constituta +in sua dioecesi, a Regularibus Ordinibus die rite constituta in suo +Kalendario; a sodalitatibus vel die rite constituta in Kalendario Ordinis +cui adhaerent si hujus Indulgentiarum participes sint, vel in Kalendario +dioecesis, non tamen in utraque die". + +Datum Romae ex secretaria ejusdem Sacrae Congregationis Indulgentiarum +die 29 augusti 1864. + + ANTONIUS M. Card. PANEBIANCO, Praef. + +LOCO [+] SIGILLI. + + PHILIPPUS CAN. COSSA, substitutus. + + +IV. + +DECISIONS REGARDING THE JUBILEE. + + +Sono pervenuti alla S. Penitenzieria i seguenti Quesiti: + +1º. Quei Vescovi che credono espediente far fruire nella prossima +Quareisma ai loro diocesani lo spirituale vantaggio del S. tere +Apostoliche degli 8. Decembre 1864, possono commutare i tre giorni dell' +ingiunto digiuno in altre opere pie; ovvero, ove Giubileo accordato dalla +Santità di N. S. Papa Pio IX. con Letper benignità della Santtià +Sua è dispensata l' astinenza dalle carni possono ingiungere detta +astinenza per tre giorni, non ostante il studetto indulto, e fermo +rimanendo il precetto del digiuno ecclesiatico? + +2º. Quei Vescovi nelle cui diocesi il tempo del Giubileo andase a cadere +durante il tempo Pasquale, possono dichiarare ai loro fedeli che colla +Comunione Pasquale resti sodisfatta la Comunione ingiunta pel Giubileo? + +3º. Molto giovando a dispore i fedeli all' aquisto delle indulgenze +del Giubileo una fervorosa preparazione mercè le Sante Missioni, ed +altronde non essendovi in Diocesi tanti Operaj da percorrerla in un Mese; +ovvero, stimandolo i Vescovi più opportuno pel bene spirituale dei loro +diocesani, possono i medesimi designare diversi mesi pei diversi Luoghi +della Diocesi, sempre però dentro l'anno 1865? + +4º. Nelle Lettere Apostoliche del 26 Marzo 1860 il Sommo Pontefice +riservò a Se, e Suoi Successori l'assoluzione dalle Censure per coloro +che mandarono ad effetto la ribellione ed usurpazione dei Dominj Pontificj +non che dei loro Mandanti, fautori, cooperatori, consiglieri, aderenti, +esecutori ecc. Ora colle amplissime facoltà che si consedono ai Confessori +in occasione del Santo Giubileo, di cui parlano le sopraindicate Lettere +Apostoliche delli 8. Decembre 1864 e quelle del 20 Novembre 1846 s'intende +tolta la suddetta riserva aposta nella detta Bolla del 26 Marzo 1860? + +S. Poenitentiaria, facta praemissorum relatione Sanctissimo Domino +Nostro Papa Pio IX., juxta Ejusdem Sanctissimi Domini mentem, respondet. + +Ad 1^{um} Per jejunium Quadragesimale, etiamsi adsit necessitas utendi +lacticiniis, satisfit duplici oneri. + +Ad 2^{um} Affirmative. + +Ad 3^{um} Ex novo Indulto Sanctissimi, affirmative. + +Ad 4^{um} Negative, et recurrendum esse ad Locorum Ordinarios, qui +providebunt juxta Instructiones. + +Datum Romae in S. Poenitentiaria die 20 Januarii 1865. + + A. M. CARD. CAGIANO MAJOR POENIT. + + G. BALLARATI S. P. Secretarius. + +Concordat cum originali. + +[+] PAULUS CULLEN, Archiepiscopus. + + + + +NOTICES OF BOOKS. + + +I. + +_Letters to the People of the World on a Life of Pleasures._ By + V. Dechamps, of the Congregation of the Holy Redeemer. Paris: 36 + Rue Bonaparte. + +The author of this work draws a picture of the life which those who +devote themselves altogether to the pursuit of pleasure are accustomed to +lead, and describes the dangerous character of the amusements sanctioned +by the pleasure-loving and fashionable society of the present day, +which seems to have forgotten the teaching of the Gospel, that any +one who wishes to be the disciple of our Lord must deny himself, and +crucify his perverse appetites and inclinations. + +Probably there are persons who, through levity or want of reflection, +allow themselves to be carried too far in the search of earthly +amusements, and yet keep up a certain spirit of religion, and +occasionally perform good works. However, admitting those exceptions, +you will find that in general gentlemen and ladies who enter on what +is called a life of pleasure, and who determine to gratify every whim +for amusement, if their conduct be closely examined, appear to live as +if they had no souls, or as if they were made solely for the purpose of +enjoying earthly delights. Forgetting their Creator, never reflecting on +our hope of future happiness, never raising their thoughts to Heaven, +bent down to Earth, they spend their days in idleness or in useless +occupations, and their nights at theatres or in other distracting, +dangerous, or corrupting amusements. When they wish to pass away a +tedious hour, they may take up a book, but it will be nothing more +serious than a novel, or a romance, or something calculated to corrupt +the heart or pervert the mind. Like gaudy butterflies, they flit from +flower to flower in their hour of sunshine, but do no good, and leave +no trace of utility behind them. What a dreadful account will they have +to render to their Creator for having wasted away the precious time and +the good gifts which he gave them that they might be usefully employed +both for this world and the next! + +The class of votaries of pleasure to whom we refer is accurately +described by the inspired writer of the Book of Wisdom: "Come, say they, +and let us enjoy the good things that are present, and let us speedily +use the creatures as in youth: let us fill ourselves with costly wine +and ointments, and let not the flower of the time pass by us: let us +crown ourselves with flowers before they be withered: let no meadow +escape our riot"--(_Wisdom_, ii. 6). + +The consequences of such a life of pleasure are very fatal; those who +engage in it think of nothing but self, forget the rights and interests +of others, and become cruel and hard-hearted. When the Romans abandoned +their ancient simplicity, and became disciples of the effeminate Epicurus, +we learn from history that they were accustomed to have gladiatorial +combats at their banquets, so that whilst indulging in the pleasures +of the table, they might glut their eyes with the sight of unfortunate +men murdering one another. It is also related that in the times of the +greatest pagan refinement in Rome, masters sometimes put their slaves +to death, in order that the muraenas and other fishes which they kept +in artificial lakes, might be made more delicate and grateful to their +taste by feeding on human flesh. It was also, we are not to forget, +in a ball-room, in the midst of pleasures, that a dancing-girl, the +daughter of Herodias, petitioned Herod to grant her the head of St. John +the Baptist in a dish. + +This tendency of those who abandon themselves to earthly pleasures is +confirmed by the testimony of the same inspired writer whom we have just +quoted. According to him, they say within themselves, "Let none of us +go without his part in luxury; let us everywhere leave tokens of joy; +for this is our portion and this our lot. Let us oppress the poor just +man, and not spare the widow, nor honour the ancient gray hairs of the +aged. But let _our strength be the law of justice, for that which is +feeble is found to be little worth_"--(_Wisdom_, ii. 9). How often are +these words illustrated in our own days! Men who throw away thousands on +horse-racing, gambling, the theatre, and fashion, frequently persecute +the poor, deprive them of their just rights, and envy them not only the +smallest enjoyment, but even the necessaries of life. Many political +economists go still farther, and endeavour to exterminate the poor +altogether, lest their rags and their suffering should offend the +eye of the wealthy. Indeed in the present day and among ourselves, +"_strength is the law of justice_", and the artizan and labourer are +looked on as mere instruments to promote the wealth and pleasures of +others; "for that _which is feeble is found to be little worth_". + +Having treated of a life of pleasures in general, the learned Redemptorist +examines some of the amusements now in vogue, and treats at considerable +length of modern dances, proving that many of them ought not to be +tolerated in Christian society. St. Francis de Sales, indeed, and +St. Alphonsus, both remarkable for their charity and meekness, admit +that dances may be allowed when conducted with Christian moderation +and propriety; but where scandal is given, either by immodest dresses, +or gestures, or movements, and where there is danger of sin, they +prohibit such amusements altogether. Gury, in his valuable compendium +of moral theology, having quoted the authority of those saints, adds: +"It is clear that dances rendered immodest by the dresses or the nudity +of the persons engaged in them, or by the character of their movements +or gestures, are grievously unlawful. To this class of dances are to +be referred the polka, the waltz, the galop, and other similar modern +introductions". He adds: "In practice, as they are generally very +dangerous, all dances in which persons of different sexes engage are to +be prevented as much as possible. Hence, parish priests and confessors +should endeavour to withdraw their subjects and penitents from them". + +Our author confirms the teaching of Gury by the authority of several +French and Belgian bishops. The venerable Archbishop of Lyons, Cardinal +de Bonald, writing on this matter, says: "If you assist at a modern ball, +will you not be tempted to inquire whether it is not a pagan spectacle +to which you have been invited? Looking round in search of modesty, +decency, or even propriety, you will not know where to rest your eyes, +in the midst of shameless nudities and of lewd and slippery dances. Such +assemblies ought not to be called Christian: they are unworthy of +that name.... We are not surprised that the dances referred to have +been carried from the great cities even to the remotest villages, +for it was to be expected that the powers of Hell would endeavour to +propagate a fashion, the origin of many evils, and well calculated to +excite passions that cause many bitter but useless tears". + +The Bishop of Gand says: "Many who take part in modern fashionable dances +justify themselves by the necessity in which they are placed; they must +do as others do; they must keep up to the fashion of the day. Let such +persons enter into themselves for a moment before the crucifix: there +they will learn that Christ has not said, I am the custom or the fashion, +but I am the way, the truth, and the life; that He has declared that no +one can serve two masters; and that on the last day He will judge us, not +according to the laws of fashion, but by the precepts of the Gospel--not +by the example of others, but by the promises of our baptism". + +The same bishop continues: "I see with grief that a rage for amusement +induces Christian mothers to bring their daughters into assemblies where +immoral dances are carried on. These same females sometimes exteriorly +profess piety, and even approach the sacraments. They pretend that they +do so under the direction of their confessors. I cannot believe their +statement. No confessor could tolerate such abuses: doing so he would +coöperate, by a culpable negligence, in the scandals given by such +penitents, and would entail a great responsibility on his conscience +before God". + +These words of the zealous bishop prove that those who have the care +or direction of souls ought to be most active in preventing scandalous +dances, which give occasion to so many sins. Certainly those who indulge +in such amusements are not worthy to be united to the Immaculate Lamb +of God by receiving the sacrament of the Blessed Eucharist, until they +determine to abandon their bad habits. + +Many who take part in modern dances, and who spend their nights in the +excitement of the polka and the waltz, say that they are not conscious +of having committed sin, and that they have a right to approach the +sacraments. Our author would not believe their assertions or admit their +claims. They appear to forget that there is such a sin as the waste of +time, such a sin as scandal. Though imagining themselves free from guilt, +they may have been the occasion of the spiritual ruin of others by their +example, or by their improper dresses, and have a grievous responsibility +on their souls. Anyhow, it is not edifying that persons who during the +week continually indulged in vanity or impropriety of dress, and in +dangerous amusements, should be freely allowed to approach the holy +altar on Sundays. Spiritual directors must take care not to render +themselves, by their laxity, responsible for the sins of others. +Though their penitents say they committed no sins themselves, yet that +is not sufficient. It must be seen whether they have not made others +commit sin, or at least put them in danger of doing so. + +A translation of the work of Father Dechamps into English would serve +to give accurate ideas on modern fashions, and to correct prevalent +abuses. Indeed, everything ought to be encouraged that tends to check +the growth of an effeminate spirit and the extravagant love of costly +and corrupting fashions, which cannot fail to bring great scourges on +the world. + + +II. + +_Obnoxious Oaths and Catholic Disabilities: A Speech of Sir J. Gray, + etc._ Fowler, 3 Crow Street, Dublin, 1865. + +Sir J. Gray deserves great credit for the force and learning with which +he has brought the question of obnoxious oaths before the public. Every +one is aware that for nearly three centuries the Catholics of Ireland +were reduced to a state of thraldom by the operation of such oaths; +for unless they consented to renounce upon oath some of the most +sacred doctrines of religion, they were excluded from all the rights +of citizens. This was the system adopted to propagate and uphold +Protestantism, which still pretended to leave to every individual the +right of judging for himself. The anti-Catholic oaths have latterly +been set aside; but Catholics are still required to take useless oaths, +apparently introduced for the purposes of annoyance and insult, before +they can occupy any public office. Such useless and offensive swearing +ought to be put an end to. + +The oaths still taken by Protestants are most insulting to Catholics, +and must be the occasion of great remorse to every delicate conscience. +The Lord Lieutenant, on arriving in Ireland, is obliged to perform +the disagreeable task of insulting those whom he is come to govern, +by swearing what he cannot know--that some Catholic doctrines are +idolatrous and superstitious, and, moreover, swearing what everybody +knows to be false--that the Pope has not any authority in Ireland, +where every day he exercises a most extensive spiritual jurisdiction. +Other officials of the state and of the establishment take similar +oaths, insulting to the Catholics of the whole world, and certainly +hurtful to the consciences of those who take them. Every Protestant, +when swearing that the Pope has no power in Ireland, must feel that +he swears to what is in opposition to the known truth. It is time that +such a system of perjury should be done away with. Sir J. Gray deserves +well of the country for having placed this question in its true light. + + * * * * * + + + + +FOOTNOTES. + + +[Footnote 1: See _Record_, vol. i. part i. p. 194.] + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Irish Ecclesiastical Record, +Volume 1, April 1865, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IRISH ECCLES. 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