The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-04-26
DIOCESAN SYNOD.
Catholic Clergy to Meet at Helena

-
in July.
The Rev. Father Francis Van Clar-
enbeck, of st. Joachim's Catholic
church, has just received from the
Right Rev. Bishop John 3. Brondel,
the latter's formal call for a diocesan
synod of the Catholic clergy of Mon
tana. to be held at Helena, July II
next. 1t will be the sixth synod held
in the diocese and the attendance
promises to be the largest of any
previous gathering. There are 4S
priests in the diocese, SO secular and
IL regular.
1t is the province of the synod to
enact such rules and laws as may be
deemed best for the government of
the clergy subject tt the bishop, ana
during the meeting the regular stand
ing committees will be named. Some
of these committees will be a%ppointe.
by the bishop, himself, and others will
be named by the synod.
The conference of the priests, which
will take pace July II, will be fol-
lowed by an examination of the young
er clergy. These examinations bear
on scripture, dogmatic and moral theo-
logy, canon law, church history and lit
urgy. The object Of these examina-
tions is to have the priests review
their theology to enable them to ac-
curately instruct and powerfully ex-
hort the faithful and to meet objec-
tions against faith from whomsoever
Or whatsoever source they may come.
IT ic in n0r3o n1io pcn with this 10or0o
which after all is according to a de-
r of the third plenary council of
Baltimore, held in 1884, under the
presidency Of Cardinal Gibbons. each
priest must undergo a yearly exami-
nation before the bishop or his dele
gate and the board of diocesan exam
iners during the space Of at least five
years from the day of his ordination,
only a local application of the general
rules of canon law, that there will be
denomination of the clergy. The
junior clergy will review the subject
of matrimony in the forthcoming ex-
animation.
The other members Of the clergy
will not be examined, but together
they will consider questions on scrip
ture, dogmatic theology, moral theolo-
GJ, ~ la :" lNo anu AlSGOly. .
The bishop in his formal announce
ment of the synod, which is written in
Latin. and addressed to each priest in
the diocese, says:
John B. Brondell, by the grace of
see, bishop of Helena, to the secular
and regular clergy, greeting in the
Lord. Reverend colleagues: BY these
1nttnrc IF ~ vu~ ao-ro-@ +l@Ns%S
diocesan synod to be held on the 18th
of July this year at the Cathedral Of
the Sacred Hearts at Helena. That
the fruit that we all desire from this
synod may not be lost. we warn you in
the Lord and command you. under
pains of the sacred canons and others
at our discretion. in virtue of holy
obedience. that the venerable clergy
of our cathedral, also others who have
charge of souls, as we'll as all those
who, by right or custom are obliged
to be present, that they assemble at
the appointed day. hour and place, to
celebrate this synod, unless they be ex
cused for serious reason to be ap-
proved in writing by the ordinary. We
will, moreover, that the faithful be
exhorted to pray for the happy sue
CSSo VI LIE SylIOu, dlu IudI IIlG special
Grafton Of the Holy Ghost be. said at
mass for this intention from the 18th
to the 18th day of June, inclusive.
"a conference will take place. and
the following day there will be an ex-
animation for the younger clergy"
Following the formal announcement
of the synod r a number of ques-
lions which r to be discussed and
answered in the conference. Some of
these questions and subjects are:
Concerning the universally of the
deluge.
What does faith teach about the
existence, the duration and the nature
OF The pains of hell?
What about the supremacy of the
Roman pontif?
What about the Immaculate concep-
ton, the virginity, the divine materni-
ty of the blessed Virgin Mary?
prove each one of these points by
quotations from. scripture. by tradi-
tion and theological reasons.
What was the cause of the enmity
between Napoleon I. and Plus VII?
Justify the course and action of
the Roman pontiff."