, 1875-06-12
PapaIE Elections.

Amongst the many privileges OF
cardinals, doubtless the greatest is
that of electing the Supreme fontln,
who is commonly chosen from their
ranks. This exclusive privilege was
decreed them in the eleventh Ecumen-
ical Council, third of the Latern, by
Alexander III. This he did to put a
stop TO many disorders arising from
the increasing number Of persons who
considered it their right to interfere
in the election. lie therefore declared
that the Pope should be henceforth
elected by the Sacred College only,
and according TO ancient custom The
Pontiff is selected from the body OF
cardinals only. Since Stephen Ill.
100, the Popes have always been cho-
sen from amongst the cardinals ex-
cepting under peculiar circumstances
Another privilege of the cardlnaiate
is that its members are to be believed
on their word of honor whenever they
declare that the Pope has granted
them any favor, and this, without the
necessity of their taking any special
oath. They possess many other priv
ileges, altogether about thirty in num-
Der, but Of these, the most important
is the following, mentioned by the
Angelic Doctor, ST. Thomas, who
tells us that In the Council of Rome,
celebrated by Pope Sylvester in 324
it was decreed that before a sentence
of condemnation could be pronounced
upon them, they must be accused by
seventy-two witnesses, If they belong
to the order of bishops, and by sixty
four, if they belong to that of priests,
by twenty-seven if to that of deacons-
wHArscARDIYALs OUGHT TO BE.
Pope Plus II. in an allocution pro.
nounced in 1860, in the cathedral Of
Siena, before some newly elected car
dinals, gives us an excellent idea OF
the importance of their office. My
sons said he, YOU have just received
the greatest of the most excellent dig
mites. Called to the Sacred College
you will be with us the judges of the
earth. You will have TO distinguish
between cause and cause, between
blood and blood, between leprosy and
leprosy. Successors of the apostles
You will be seated round us on our
throne. You will be the Senators of
Rome and like kings the true heroes
of the earth, upon which the doors of
the Church move. Consider therefore
in your hearts what mind what genius,
what integrity is needed to fill this
dignity, humility and not pride, liber-
ality not ayarice, abstinence and not
excess, confluence and not license,
wisdom, learning and not ignorance,
in a word, all the virtues and no vices
is what this honor eXacts. If you
have hitherto been vigilant, you must
be more so now than ever. If you
have been generous be doubly SO now,
give aims abundantly, and above all
things help and feed the poor. If
you have been abStemious be so still,
and even more so than ever. Drive
from your souls all trace Of cruelty
and arrogance. May the holy books
be constantly in your hands day and
night, either learn something or teach
others, and do such works that your
light may shine forth before the whole
world. In fine, be such as You wished
the cardinals to be, before yourselves
were raised to that high rank
In the fourth century. under Con-
stantine, at the period Of the Council
Of Rome, the title cardinal appears
for the first time in history, but in all
probability and according TO Eugeuius
", it was St. Peter himself who in
slitutel this order in imitation of the
Savior who surrounded Himself with
apostles. st. Peter likewise surround
ed himself with a council of persons
of superior morality and wisdom, in
order to consult with them concerning
the affairs of the Church it is doubt
less for this reason Sixtus V, calls the
cardinals the representatives of the
Apostles, and that the Sacred College
is always termed apostolic. This same
Pontitf also compares the Sacred Col
lege to the assembly of elders chosen
by Moses by command Of God, to help
him to conduct the chosen people into
the promised land, (Numbers, chap.
NJ. V. 10, III As amongst the Jews,
these aged men formed the senate OF
Moses, so also under the Popes they
act in similar manner, and he is tc
them, a second, a Christian Moses.
the high priest, Vicar of Christ and
head of a Church destined by God to
lead the human family through the
troubled waves of this life TO the tran.
quill shores of eternity. Innocent III
likens the cardinals to the priests OF
the race of Levi.
Try TINS WAy.-A beautiful and
high-spirited horse would never allow
n shoe IN no mt nm his feet or any