The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-07
Full and Interesting Report of the
Deliberations Of That Eccle-
siasticaI Body.
THE DEVILS ADVOCATE" WON
ARGUMENTS OF THE CLERICAL LAW
YERs BRIEFLY SET FORTH.
Five Points Used Against the Maid,
but Findings Based on but One
-Desecrated Holiday.

Correspondence OF the indianapolis Journal.
ROME. Aug. aO-The devils advocate"
so called. has triumphed. and the name OF
Joan of Arc will not be placed on the roster
of saints, as the French nation fondly ex-
pected.
At all lamentations the DEVILS advocate
plays a more or less prominent part. This
queer title is given to one Of the papal ex-
aminers into the claims OF sanctity, and
II Is his solemn business to place obstacles
in the way Of the proposed act and contest
all the facts produced by the other side.
The inquiry into the life and deeds Of the
maid who Is still the idol Of chivalrous
France had its official beginning twenty
eight years ago, when the late Marshal
Mcmahon was President OF France, and
reached its final stages in July. First there
was the secret consistory, held by the
heads OF the Congregation of Rites and the
Sacred College; the second, which was pub
lie. but very slimly attended, as only
very few persons knew OF its occurrence,
followed some time later, and ten days ago
the final consistory met In the gSeat hall
above the portico of st. Peters. This was
semi public;" that is, only the chief postu-
lants OF the cause were admitted aside
from the writer. acting as reporter.
The beautiful ediice was gorgeously
draped with colored hangings and the trib-
une ablaze with lights. The cardinal pro-
curator Of the canonization sat in the CEN
ter, the cardinals in a semicircIe around
him To the right of the procurator stood
the consistory's advocate; to his left the
devils advocate, his opponent.
The interior of the hall was covered with
red and gold drapery. and every available
seat was filed by great prelates in purple
and ermine gowns, wearing fine SUPPLIES
of ancient lace. their rings and crosses
shining with many colored Jewels.
NO PORTRAIT VISIBLE.
As / entered the hall in the suite of the
French postulants our fondest hopes were
shattered at once. Between the lights on
the tribune the personal arms of the Pope
were displayed. a poplar between feurs de
lis. in the left-hand corner a star, throwing
rays Of golden light on the tree; but the
portrait of Joan. for which we were look
Ing. was missing. We took this for bad
omen. as 1t is customary TO exhibit to the
consistory a picture of the new saint. be-
SIDES panel paintings of several of the mir
acles performed by him or her.
After the usual ceremonies the cardinal
procurator ordered the advocates to pre-
sent their case. Naturally 1 was most in
terested in the person OF the DEVILS advo-
cate. but my curiosity received a sudden
shock when 1 noticed that the hood of that
prelate's dress was so arranged as TO hide
his face. He has an unpleasant duty to
perform. and the Vatican authorities light
en- his burden by allowing him to remain
unknown. The DEVILS advocate is probably
defeated as often as he is successful, and
IN the former instance he might lose caste
with his fellow-priests If identified as the
official opponent OF a newly proclaimed
saint.
Before the arguments opened the repre-
sentative OF the secretary of state an
nounced that there were no political obsta-
cles to the canonization Of the maid. Car
dinal Rampolla, he said, had the assurance:
of the British government under Queer
Victoria and King Edward VII that Great
Britain would interpose no objections. and
officially would take no notice whatever
whether Joan was canonized or not.
The cardinal procurator then asked
whether the two advocates were ready fol
argument. whereupon they answered in tht
Affirmative Next his Eminence inquired
OF the cardinals of the Sacred College anC
Of the Congregation of Rites whether they
had any objections to listening to tn,
pleadings of this particular time. Aftel
they consented to hear the case the pro
curator ordered the devils advocate L
proceed.
PLEA OF DEVILS ADVOCATE
That functionary thereupon formulated
his objections to ''the proposal before tn
honorable body. viz, to place the name o
Joan Of Are among the saints who have tn
power of aiding their votaries. of interced
ing for them before the throne OF grace, o
curing diseases and OF visiting the earth
There are five strong objections to he
elevation" he pleaded, "all of which hav
been properly submitted to the investiga
tors and consistories previously held Tn
Ave objections to Joan's canonization ar
as follows:
First: Desecrated a Holiday.-On Sept
s. 1879. which was the birthday of our Lady
then. as now. great festival in our hol
church. Joan attacked the city of Pari.
causing the death of numerous good Catho
lies and Decorating the holiday by othe
deeds OF violence.
Second: Untruthfulness. Throughout
her campaigns Joan maintained that sh
had a mission from heaven to drive tn
English from French soil. yet she Above
herself to be taken prisoner at Compiegn,
a fact which tended TO perpetuate the sta
tus quo. namely. the occupation of Franc
by her enemy. the English.
Third: Lack OF Fortitude.-She tried
break Jail at Beaurevolr. which was an &C
mission OF guilt
Fourth: Cowardice and Lies.-She fina
Is abjured her previous statements an
broke her oath not TO don mems dres
again
"F1fth.-There are doubts as to her cha.
tity."
The above declarations were heard wit
dismay by all the Frenchmen present Il
they knew IL would be impossible TO refu
at least one OF the charges. However, n
advocate of the "cause" made most ell,
quent plea in Joan's favor and defende
her with rare ability. basing his argumen
on historical material, which containe
much that was new, and on tradition, thi
has always resounded TO Joan's glory.
THE CHARGES CONSIDERED.
AS to the charge OF desecrating a holids
the advocate maintained that Joan. accor
ing 10 her contemporaries, had consider
Bile seruple about attacking Paris on o.
Lady's birthday What decided her vi
the generals eagerness TO advance. d
wretched Kings threat TO desert. an
.t.<,.,a all the fart that LOANS ''yOices" q