The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-05-15

of the Saints.
In his person, whatever may be his
sympathies, the Cause is best served
weakness or defect, legal or otherwise,
in the Cause. Many times it has hap
pened that a Cause otherwise full of
promise has gone down before the
thrust of the Promoter of the Faith.
The Saint may enjoy singular glory
in heaven, but the Church will not
commit herself to pay public honor
on earth with any shadow Of doubt
resting on the Cause.
Wonderful Court of Justice.
Aside from these principal function
aries, there are secretaries, physicians
and other scientific men and experts
whose special knowledge may be re-
quired in the examination of the facts
and phenomena brought up in the evil
dence.
This is a wonderful court of Justice,
where proof has to be given of mani
fold excellence of life" The matter
of the inquiry is principally as to
seven virtues, the theological virtues
of faith, hope and charity, the card-
nal virtues of prudence, justice, for
/ tltude and temperance. These must
be proved to have been practiced in
a heroic degree with all that is in
volved in this practice, of subordinate
and cognate virtues, and particularly
those which belong especially to the
calling and station of the Servant of
God.
Aside from the hearing or evidence
the advocates are bound to examine
every fragment of writing to make
sure that they are free from error as
to faith or morals. Holy indeed must
be the life that can come out victori-
ously from the ordeal of the investi-
cations.
Later the whole process is review
ed from. the beginning. If all goes
we'll, the Process, having been re-
turned to the Congregation of Rites,
is again considered, and the virtues
and miracles again discussed in
three separate sessions, usually sep
arated from each other by a years
interval. The Pope in person presides
at the last session. Having eXhorted
all to prayer for the Will of God to
be made known, and heard the opinion
| of each ConsultOr he finally makes
| known his decision to the Secretary
One more general meeting of the Con-
gregation is then ordered, to make
sure that it is safe to proceed with
the Identification of the Servant of God
without delay. A day for the cere-
mony may then be appointed.
Judgment of Holy See.
AfterWard the Brief embodying the
Judgment of the Holy See is prepared.
This Brief is only for beatifcation
usually preliminary step to canon
ization, which may or may not follow
in due course. The difference between
the honor of Qualification and that ac-
corded to canonized Saints lies prin,
cipally in the fact that in the first
case the public cultus of the Servant
of God is allowed, and in the second
} it is commanded. A beatified Servant
OF God may be hOnOred in certain
countries, dioceses or religious orders.
but the feast is not celebrated through.
out the universal Church, and in some
liturgical details it is less solemnly
kept than that of a canOniZed Saint.
The next step is the formal public
declaration of the judgment, in the
ceremony of Qualification, which
takes place in the Basilica of ST. Pc
ter's in Rome, where the Papal Brief
is publicly read, the TIE Deum sung,
the picture of the newly beatified is
unveiled and incensed, the Collect in
his honor is read, and Mass is offered
with ceremonies almost as solemn as
those for canonzatiOn.
This last and greatest honor is
granted only after at least two new
miracles have been wrought by the
intercessiOn of the beatified Servant
OF God, and these are subjected to
the same scientific and ecclesiastical
scrutiny as those which had been
accepted for Qualification. If the
miracle of Miracles" as Leo XIII
called it, is obtained, and the evidence
satisfies the examining board of ply
sicians and the Cardinals of the Con-
gregatiOn, the same formal sessions
of the Congregation of Rites, duly
spaced out and surrounded with form
alities, prepare the way for the last
session, when the Pope again preside,
and, if everything is satisfactory, pro-
claims his intention to proceed with
the canonization of the Saint.
Solemn Ceremonies.
The solemn ceremonies here men
toned are extremely interesting. The
Basilica is adorned in the Roman
manner with rich crimson hangines
and many lights. The arms of the
reigning Pope are displayed with
those of royal persons or others who
have petitioned for the introduction
of the Cause or have been connected
with it. Emblems, inscriptions an
pictures illustrating the acts and vir-
tues of the Saint are used in the dee
orations. Above the altar is hung his
portrait, as yet covered with VEIL.
Thrones are set on either side OF
the altar for the Cardinals, Prelates
of the Roman Court and Consultors
of the Sacred Congregation. Flowers
and incense, symbols of things spir-
itual, and solemn music enhance the
splendor of the whole. The crowds