Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-05-26

the CONSIDERATION OF pubic AFFAIRS, but IT
mas assumed a special sense in the
CATHOLIC church, the sacred consistory
being the solemn assembly Of the pope
and the college of cardinals, gathered to-
gether in the apostolic palace as a SEN
ate. In former times the consiStory was
the court OF judgment for all affairs &C.
cleslastical and met almost daily.
But now only the most important busi-
ness comes before the consistory, minor
matters being decided by various COM
mittees and congregations of cardinals.
Inc modern consistOry may be either or
oinary and secret or solemn n public.
The extraordinary consistory is con-
Quoted with great pomp, and ceremony.
princes and kings or their ambassadors
are. received. the red hat is given to the
latest created cardinals and legates re-
turned from foreign missions make their
reports. f+ v
After audience has been given to all
who wish to address him, the doors of
the place of meeting are closed, none but
the cardinals being allowed to remain
inside. The pope lays matters of I'M
p%ortance before them. asking their advice
or vote on each subject. DEGREES are
framed and recorded by the cardinal vice
chancellor as secretary. The matters
treated IN these secret corsistories are as
follows: Promotions to the cardinals,
promotions to the most important
churches, such as the metropolitan, sthe
cathedral, etc, the transfer of bishops
from one see to another, the cr%eationsor
rearranging Of dioceses, the granting OF
the pallium and other important ecclesi-
astical matters. :
1t is in these consistories that the con-
dition of the church all over the world is
discussed, and here the pope points out
errors of teaching or method which re-
quire correction. delivering "allocu-
tons" which are later published for the
guidance of the bishops throughout the
world. The cardinals play an import
ant advisory part in these deliberations,
presenting the reports of the special COM
m!ttees which are intrusted with the in
~vestlgation OF the character of candi-
dates for the bishoprics and all such
matters. But it is necessary to d that
they are only advisers, and the pope may
do or say whatever he wishes notwith-
standing their position. AS a matter of
fact he seldom uses this prerogative as
supreme II infallible head of the
church. @
At times the pope creates some car
dinals in a consistory without MENTION
ing their names. These are called car
dinals "in petto'-that is, lin the breast
Of the pope. This device was adopted
when the popes deemed come one worthy
of the red biretta, but wished to postpone
the announcement. because those NOM
mated We're at the time engaged in some
work or mission which the pontiff did not
wish to interrupt. 1t has been rumored,
for instance, that Mgr. Martinelli, the
present legate of the pope to the United
States, has been named a cardinal in
petto. because the pope did not wish to
recall him just at present.
The ceremony of creating cardinals is
an interesting part Of the proceedings of
the conslstOries. and as it is almost GER
tain that some will be proclaimed and
created at the coming c~onsistory. an ac-
count of the ceremony is timely. After
all the other business has been trans
acted at the secret consistory the pope
addresses the college of cardinals, say
ing: You have brethren Then the
names of those whom he wishes to raise
to the cardinalate are mentioned, and he
asks: what do you think?"' The car-
dinals assembled remove their birettas
and bow their heads as a sign of assent.
The decree is now drawn up and at
once, published outside of the consistory.
Ii the cardinals just appointed are in
Rome at the time they go Immediately
TO the Apostolic palace in their usual
dresss without any attendants. One of
the older cardinals presents them to the
pope, who gives them the red cap, or
biretta. If the new cardinal is absent
from Rome one of the pope's attendants
:" tSiS uiSpd lCHtu WIFI Tile req
cap upon the receipt of which the new
cardinal must promise under oath, under
penalty Of losing the cardinalate. to go
to Rome and visit the pope within one
year.
1t will be remembered that a messan-
ger from the pope came on this mission
some years g to Cardinal Satolli, who
was consecrated in Baltimore by Car
dinal Gibbons with imposing ceremonial
and solemn service. AT the public con-
slstory the giving Of the insignia to the
new cardinals is a proceeding of great
ceremony.
AN of the cardinals are assembled in
The Apostolic palace, the pope wearing
his inter. He orders the new cardinals
to approach. They bow low and stand
with uncovered head before the last car
dlnal priest. The pope addresses them on
the office and eminence of the cardinal
ate. The new cardinals approach and
kiss the pope's feet as they kneel before
him. Then they rise and kiss his hand,
and last his mouth. -
After this they go and receive the kiss
of peace from the other cardinals. Then
the pope places the red hat upon their
heads, saying: For the praise of AL
mighty God and the ornament Of the
Holy See receive the red hat, an emblem
of the singular dignity of the c%ardinalate.
by which is signified that wen to death
and the shedding of blood, inclusively,
for the exaltation of our holy faith, for
the peace and quiet Of Christian people,
for the increase and preservation of the
Holy Roman church, you are to show
yourself intrepid, in the name of the
Father, n of the Son, and Of the Holy
Ghost, Amen"
This is the work of the various sacred
consistorias, according to the laws of the
church now in force. The result Of the
approaching gathering will be watched
the world over with intense interest, for
it is possible. il not probable, the last at