The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-03-06
|RON CARDINALS ARE MADE.
They Administer the Affairs of the
Church in the Absence of
the Pope.
There is Little Difference iii Our
Government and that
of Rome.

some FeCulIdTlLleS ludl Ale lNOA
Generally Known About the
Election of Cardinals.
The American senate has called halt.
The cardinals administer the affairs
Of the church during the vacancy OF tie
Roman See, but, strictly speaking, the
juridiction of the Pope does not pass to
TIE sacred college, for it belongs only to
the successor of Peter. Hence, no
changes are made in general laws, and
no bishops are created or deposed, be-
fore the election of a new Pontiff AS
soon as the death of the Pope becomes
known all the cardinals are bound to re-
pair to Rome, to take part In the con-
clave; but they must return to their re-
spective sees two months after the e1ec-
ton. AS it is the duty of cardinals to
assist in the government of the church,
so their presence is always required in
Rome, and they cannot depart without
permission of the Pope. Cardinals hav-
ing dioceses outside of the Eternal City
are bound to reside in t1cir respective
sees, but they are also supposed to &C
quaint the Holy Father before return
Ing to their homes. Meetings of the
cardinals, in the presence OF the Soyer-
eign Pontiff, are called consistories.
They are of two kinds. Private and
public. Private ones are confined ex-
clusively to cardinals. Public consist
cries are held with greater pomp. Pre-
lates, ambassadors and others are ad-
mitted.
The affairs of the church are commit
ted to several bodies called sacred con-
gregations, just as there are several de-
partments of the government at Wash
ington. Several cardinals are assigned
to each, and every cardinal serves on
different congregations. Each congre-
cation has a presiding officer known as
the prefect, who, with the secretary,
transacts incidental matters. The more
important affairs require the delibera-
ton of the whole congregation, and are
decided by majority vote of the cardi-
mails. Every question has its own tri-
bunal, and each congregation is supplied
with faculties by the Pope, in whose
name 1t acts. Besides the cardinals,
there are consultors, who have no au-
tnoritative voice in the deliberations
of the congregations; but questions of
faith, morals, liturgy, law or discipline
are referred to them for solution. These
consultors arc composed Of archbishOps,
bishops, inferior prelates and simple
priests. The secretary is usually tit
ular prelate of inferior rank. Titular
bishops and archbishops are those hav-
ing no diocese to govern, but conse
Grated to perpetuate the memory Of ex-
tinct sees. Some towns and cities have
entirely disappeared, which were for
merly the residence cf a bishop or arch
bishop. In others the people fell into
schism, heresy or infldelity, and thus
the see became extinct.
Besides the cardinals, patriarchs, pri-
mates, archbishops and bishops there
are prelates of an inferior rank. Among
them are prothonotaries, who had their
origin in the first century. 1t was their
duty to keep the records of the early
martyrs, and their Office has been con-
tinued. There are others, who are the
domestics of the Apostolic Palace. They
are simply priests, and what dignity can
exceed that Of the priesthood! They are
called monsignori, and they are en-
dowed with certain privileges deemed
useful in the government of the church.
The Pope is the center Of all. Around
him revolves every grade. He Is the
rock on which the divine fabric is built.
Without him it would have crumbled
centuries ago. The papacy shall with
stand the wreck of ages and the church
shall be eternal
The care of the Holy Roman See ex-.
tends to every part of the globe, and the
Pope is the common father Of the child
rem of every race. The zeal OF the
church knows no distinction of nation
or tribe. All were redeemed by the
blood of Jesus, and 1t Is her mission to
confer the blessing of redemption on
every descendant of Adam. The church
is of divine institution. The Pope is the
center, and from him comes the inspira-
tlon to guide all. His authority is SUI
preme and his responsibilities great,
but he has others to assist him. Some
are of divine origin, as bishops, priests
and inferior ministers, constituting the
hierarchy OF orders. Others began in
the days Of the apostles, or grew up at q
subsequent period. Such are patrfaFchs,
primates, aTehbishops and cardinals. I
am now going to speak Of cardinals and
other officials assisting IN the govern
ment Of the universal church.
The cardinals are the immediate ad-
2fvisers of the Pope They are divided