The Irish standard., 1903-10-03
Leo XIII, Who Reigned for More Than Quar-
ter of Century, Held But Eighteen
of These.
Som ething About the Ceremonies and Func-
tions Connected With These
Important Meetings.

Al the moment or the election OF PlllS
x much that was erroneous was pub
iished with respect to his authority
and power, which We're declared to be
without any trammel OF limitation,
says the New York Tribune. The news,
therefore, from Rome to the effect that
he is about to hold his first consistory
renders it Of timely interest to point
cut that the latter exercises much OF
die same check upon the ecclesiastical
sovereignty Of the Pope as the United
States senate enjoys with regard to
president. In one word, the cardinals
are the senators Of the Roman Catholic
Church; their meetings, over which the
pontif presides, are described as con-
sistories, and to such an extent is the
holy father obliged to defer to the con-
.sistOry's views that he cannot even con-
fer the red hat upon any prelate with
out it's consent. 1t is well that this
should be widely known, for it serves
to explain the apparent contradiction
between many of the publicly express
ed views Of Leo XIII and the policy, to
(which he was compelled to give an oft
,seluctnnt sanction, while in the same
way it will account for the failure of
Plus X to institute all the reforms and
all the changes which he is under
Stood to have at heart. In Olden times
consistories were held daily, except
,t.Nndays and feast days. But in course
of time the various congregations were
established, which have their counter
part in the senate committees at Wash
ington Composed of certain cardinals,
designated for the purpose by the pope,
the chairman being entitled the prefect,
they took charge of the business refer
red to them by the holy seat, and the
.consistories were only summoned for
the transaction of the weightiest mat
.ters. Leo NH, who reigned for more
than quarter of century, held eigh-
teen consistories, while his predecessor,
Plus IX, whose tenure of the pontitical
throne was almost as long, had nine
teen to his record. AS a general rule
they take place at the vatican, but Plus
VII presided over two at Paris, while
Others have met at AvignOn and Ferra
Ta-in fact. time and place depend OH
the wishes Of the pontitf. "Whenever
the ordinances of SiXtus ". and when
Leo XIII occupied the chair of st.
Peter his reluctance to summon con-
sstories was a subject of much criti-
.cism among the highest ranks of the
Church. When the pontiff has finally
decided upon the date of the cOnsistory
the dean of the Apostolic cursores
comes to him and, kneeling at his feet,
.exclaims in Latin: "Holy father, health
and long life. Will there be con-
sistory tomorrow" The holy father
answers in the affirmative and dis
misses with his blessing the cursor.
who at once hastens to the maggior
domo and to all the cardinals in resi-
dence at Rome. to whom he solemnly
communicates the summons. On the
following day the sacred college as
sembles in the consistorial hall to
await the pope. who. clad in white,
with STOLE enters, accompanied by
his suite. and takes his place on the
throne. After brief address to the
holy father. usually delivered by the
dean of the sacred college. the signal of
1'extra omnes'' is given, and all with
draw save the pontiff and his cardinals,
who then go into sacred session. An
allocution is thereupon usually deliver
ed by the pope touching upon some i'm
portant ecclesiastical or political ques-
ton of the day, and after having eX-
pounded his own views he asks for
those of the cardinals present. and the
action of the holy seat in the matters at
issue is determined upon. The pontiff
likewise debates with the members
present the creation of new cardinals.
For this purpose a chair is placed at
the right hand of the pontiff, while all
the cardinals take seats at distance.
out of earshot of the papal throne. Ad-i
.