The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-02-06

person may be obliged to procure hfty Of them.
The price Of them is ten cents for the poor, thirty
for the middling classes fifty for the mobiles, and
one hundred for the princes. Putting the revenue
from this source the lowest figure. we have nine
thousand dollars
The certificates of confirmation, of decease, of
marriage, are also necessary, but not 80 often as
those Of baptism. The price for them is the same.
The annual revenue from this source can not be
less than $9750.
Burial expenses are exorbitant and obligatory
The long files of priests and friars, all paid to
accompany the body, the wax given to all the
members Of the clergy, and the tapers which are
lighted in great numbers around the body, and
remain for the profit of the priests occasions an
enormous expense. At Rome the most economi-
cal burial Of man Of the middle class costs at
least fifty dollars and those of the RICH and of the
nobility, cost several hundreds; but the poor give
little, and sometimes nothing. Count, then, for
each funeral seven dollars and half and we have
for the 10000 yearly revenue of 100000 for
the clergy
The numerous begging friars who travel the
country, asking aims, receive from the people
Collections are constantly made in all the
churches. The bag is handed round the church at
each mass, at each elevation, sometimes for one
madonna, sometimes for another; sometimes for
one saint, and sometimes for another to-day for
one festival tomorrow for another-so that one
counting only the Parish churches and ten colec-
tions year, and suppose the receipts to average
two dollars, have in the 10000 Parishes a
revenue Of 100000 dollars year.
Preaching is paid for by townships and indi-
viduals, and forms also branch of clerical com
merce. This is not the case in many Parish
churches, but it exists most of those directed by
the frars. Suppose that this exists in only five
thousand churches, each costing only thirty dollars
yearly, we have clerical revenue from this source
of $150,000.
With the exception of a few of the principal
towns, all parts Of the Roman States pay tithes
The income from this source must be far above
$150,OOO, but we place it at this figure. Add to
| this revenue from the semnares and colleges o.
| at least $4,000.
Dispensatons from marriage, indulgences, privi
leges, particular chapes and atars, and those innu
merabe articles sold at the churches, at the
Dataria at the secretaryship, Of Briefs Of ndulgen
ces, relics etc., form OF the best of the
revenue of the clergy; count this at $4,000.
The Saturday before Ea ter, the priests bless the
houses Of the iaity, each one of whom makes then
present either in money or produce. Count thi.
at cent for each, and we have revenue o
$4,000.
Supposed miracles or pardons received from diff
ferent Madonnas or Saints paid in offerings o
| wax, of money, or of hearts images in silver O
| gold, or in jewels, which become the property o
| the Church. The revenues from this source maj
be placed at $4,000 yearly, although this mus
fall far below the sum actually received. The gift
at Rimini alone in the last two months almost ua
| this sum.
| When any one is sick, it is the custom to get
| priest to say a trsdn0 to some Madonna Saint
| for his cure. Sometimes prayers are said ever
ninth day Ceremonies performed for the dea
on the seventh day, on the thirteth and on the an
niversary. The smallest tax Of the triduo is fixe
at 50, for the ninth day ceremony at $40, and 70
the anniversary at SO. Supposing each parish t
| receive but $50 from this source, the annual re
ceipts would be $5OO,0OO.
The churching of women is another source @
| riches for the clergy. Each one must receive tn
benediction and make a present. Put the total {
these at the low sum of $4,000.
We do not count the receipts Of the clergy arisin
from scapuares, girdIes, rosaries heart Of Jesu
heart of the Virgin Mary, medals, etc., nor thos
from benedictions at the death bed from visits pal
to the curosities in the Churches, the amounts pal
by priests for advancement and for holy water
for the tax paid by the Jews for the privilege
living outside of the Ghetts nor from the benedic
tion of new houses, Of nuptial beds, OF countr
seats, ETC.. nor from hundred similar sources nc
have we spoken of the immense sums levied o
| the people for the construction and repair
churches, the revenues of the ecclesiastcs froI
their civil and religious functions for instance
| the provincial legates, the nuncios, the priest.
magistrates, and the cardinals. We have place
| the sum derived from the few sources mentione
at the very lowest figure. They may be recapitu
| lated as follows:
Revenues of the Clergu in the Roman Sfnfes