The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1908-07-25

tWo secretaries; one Tor oriental al
fairs, the other for Occidental r"atters.
This division was effected by Plus IX.
in view of the great press of business
which came before this congregation.
1t has, besides, under it's jurisdiction
an ecclesiastical university for the Ell
ucation Of priests for all the mission
countries. 1t has also the most cele-
brated printing press in the world,
called the Polyglot Press of the Prop
uganda. All the languages of the world
are represented in some way or other
in the work of the Propaganda uuiver-
sity and printing press.
Ecclesiastical Immunity and lnduI.
sences and Relics.
The Congregation of Ecclesiastical
Immunity was founded by Gregory XIV.
1t deals with questions concerning &C.
clesiastcal jurisdiction and tho him
drances to the free exercise of the
rights of the Church. Its patrons may
be said to be Gregory VII. and st.
Thomas Of Canterbury, both of whom
died in defence of the liberties OF the
Church.
This congregation is at presen. an
nexed to the Sacred Congregation O:
the Council. and consists of three cur
dinals. one of whom is prefect.
The Sacred Congregation of Indul-
gences and Relics, now merged by
Plus X into the Sacred Congregation
of Rites and Ceremonies, was estab-
lished by Clement TX. The special
function Of this congregation was tn
prohibit the publication of false indul-
gences, to authenticate relics, to re,
solve doubts in regard to these mat
ters and to correct abuses.
The Holy Father reserves to himself
all dogmatic doubts arising from mat
ters which come before this Consresa-
tion. as also the hearing of all more
grave and difficult cases.
Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs.
The Congregation of Extraordinary
Ecclesiastical Affairs was founded by
Plus VII. The examination Of concor-
dats with governments. the transac.
tion Of business from countries subject
to the Russian Empire and from South
America, come under its Jurisdiction
It is a permanent council of the Secre-
tary of State.
The Congregation Of Apostolic Visit
station has the Holy Father for its Pre-
feet, and is concerned with the official
inquiry into the state of the churches,
especially in the diocese Of RoEie An
other congregation which is purely
Roman, is the Congregation for the
Fabric Of st. Peters, whose ;1uty it is
to watch over the material conserva-
ton of the great basilica of st. Peters,
Scope and Methods Of the consreea-
tions.
Each congregation has prefect OF
president, who Is not a superior. but
the first among equals. The secretary
of each Congregation is appointed by
the Pope. The consultors of the CON
gregations, men chosen for their ex-
pert knowledge Of certain subjects out
Of the ranks Of the secular and resu-
lar clergy. are also chQsen by the Pope
These latter have not a deciding vote
in the council Of the congregation, but
simply a consultative one Each new
cardinal on the occasion Of hts public
installation into the Sacred College Is
assigned to various congregations
They are also given titular church ir
the city Of Rome, so that each card!na
is affiliated with the Roman clergy.
When cases come up before tn. con
gregations, some cardinal who lla.
membership in the Congregation is an.
pointed "relator" or "ponent." 1t IL
his duty. with the help Of the consul.
tors and secretaries, to prepare :he
case for presentation before the cardi.
nails Of the congregation, and t. Civ:
Il1o tOICS 0IdSluS l1C IcdSOuS "ulCI
have induced him to come to such a
decision.
Decisions Submitted to the Pope.
The decisions arrived at are brought
to the Holy Father either by the Car
inal Prefect in person or by rle sec
retary Of the congregation, to be con-
f1rmed by him or to be remitted back
to the congregation for further consid-
GRAFTON or to be set aside in virtue OF
his supreme. apostolic authority.
The decisions Of the Roman congre.
cations. when confirmed by the Jope
have the force Of general law. But
they are not infallible or irreforlmable
1nfallibility belongs to the Pope alone
and 1t cannot be delegated. Ever
when the Pope confirms the decisions
Of the Roman congregations, they
still remain the decisions OF The con-