New-York tribune., 1908-12-20

., -.-da- themselves worthy Of their forebears-
Perhars the ancestors in question were not al
Usvs worthy Of such devotion on the part OF
their descendants. But Father Time usually
deals rather kindly with the dead. and as years
mass by the memory Of their shortcomings dis
sppears. and their good qualities are not only
recalled but likely 70 be exaggerated
vENERATIoN OF ANIMALS.
T Is the same in all parts OF the globe; and
g, Furope al any rate. explains the existence OF
monuments erected 70 people generations and
IN some cases centuries, after their demise
hono-s Of which the judgment Of their conten-
poraries did not deem them worthy. In olden
times. when education was restricted TO the
clergy. and when the people Of Europe were stlli
f-7pregnated with the influences OF a paganism
-bs- had onlv recently been abandoned. this
.-,o-I1cation OF the dead often assumed forms
that we're g-otesdue. Not merely men and
women were revered as saints whose lives
though heroic had been very far from sanity
hut even animals. Thus. have before me as L
write historic records Of the veneration away
hack in the tenth century Of Saint Wolf a
Saint Fox and even Of a Saint Partridge Every
community manifested disposition TO enthrone
as 3 saint the particular hero Of its countryside
and 10 invoke his intercession with the DlNliie
Powers on their behalf
Il WAS for the purpose Of putting an end TO all
these abuses. and in many instances ridiculous
extravagances. that in 1170 Pope Alexander III
found il necessary TO issue decree declaring II
unlawful 10 honor any person publicly as saint
without the sanction Of the Roman Church His
successors In the chair Of st. Peter added
further restrictions, all designed TO limit the
popular attributions of sanctity TO men and
women whose lives and deaths could be shown,
after the most careful and wide reaching ex-
nv Of
canonization. And in the seventeenth century
Urban VIII Issued bull by which the form Of
procedure still in force in cases of beatihcation
and canonization was determined and very
stringent rules established. The result Of all
these PontifcaI edicts bearing upon the recog-
milton Of human beings saints has been TO
render beatifcation and canonization matters of
extreme difficulty The inquiries into the lives
Of the candidates put forward for these honors
Of the Church are of the most exhaustive char
scter. every vestige of information bearing upon
the subject being sought, examined and duly
weighed Extreme deliberation marks the pro-
ceedings so as TO avert the slightest possibility
OF any mistake being made, and 1.-The fierce light
which beats upon q throne" is nothing compared
GO that which minute and protracted in
ouiry turns upon the former life OF the postu-
liant for seinthood-
FIRST STEP IN CANNONIZATION
The first step Of the procedure is a formal in
cuiry instituted by the Bishop OF the diocese IN
which the candidate for the post-mortem honors
Of the Church has lived and died The Bishop.
II his investigations prove satisfactory. sends a
report upon the matter TO the Congregation of
Rites at Rome, and thereupon a promoter fdei
Is appointed by the congregation, this official
being described IN popular language as the
Devils Advocate" II is his duty 10 institute an
~
OF she candidate. and also TO subject the testi-
nnony laid before the Congregation Of Rites to a
most drastic scrutiny. in order TO discover any
Haw or weak point that might exist In the
event OF the report OF the Congregation OF Rites
being favorable, the stage known the intro
Guction Of the Apostolic process IS reached. and
the Pope issues a special commission TO a num-
ber OF prelates at Rome still further 20 investi-
gate and report to him
But this cannot take place until at least ten
years have elapsed after the matter was first
submitted 70 the Congregation OF Rites. II this
pontincal commission reports favorably, the
Pope then sccords the designation Of Venerable
20 the candidate. Some proceedings never get
beyond this stage, In the case OF those who are
more fortunate. their claims TO Qualification are
next submitted by the Hcly Father 10 stiu an
ether commission, which has TO go over the en-
dire testimony &c seek new evidence. Yet other
commissions follow and further researches are
instituted. and then IL everything be favorable.
and II the DEVILS Advocate has proved unsuc-
cessful IN his quest the Pope holds two or three
meetings Of the Sacred College-that is TO say.
the Senate OF the Church-in order TO discuss
the matter. and II is not until he has duly salts
ned himself thereby that there are no possible
objections to the beatihcetion which is sought
that he appoints e day for the ceremony, and. as
On Sunday last p'oclairns the candidate as
blessed" with imposing and impressive rites
6o-neumes the investigations for beatihca-
con have been 90 exhaustive that the labors
o. the subsequent commissions OF inquiry which
hsve now 10 be appointed before canonizatton
can take place, are reduced TO a mere formal
ity. and the promotion 20 sainthood speedily
f~a0sxs but In tha raaJozitx Of instances ths