Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 12.djvu/410

 PRAYER

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PREACHERS

and this is the final shape in which he left it; in- numerable modifications to which it has since been subjected have been made entirely according to the caprice of the different publishers. Both before and after the issue of "The Garden of the Soul", a large number of other Catholic manuals of devotion have enjoyed more or less popularity. In 1617 and 1618 we have "A new Manual of Old Christian Cathohc Meditations and Prayers" and "A Manual of Prayers used by the Fathers of the Primitive Church", both compiled by Richard Broughton, a divine of Douai. The "Devotions in the Ancient Way of Offices", which was drawn up by John Austin before 1670, had the compliment paid it of being imitated and prac- tically pirated by Anglicans. The "Libellus Precum" was a work produced by the English Jesuits in the eighteenth century for the use of the sodalists in their colleges and has continued in use down to the present day. Of the crowd of works bearing such titles as the "Key of Heaven", "The Path to Paradise", the "Golden Manual", the "Path to Heaven" etc., some of them reproducing names already in use in the seventeenth century, it would be impossible to speak in detail. As regards the censorship of prayer- books, something has already been said of the RIotu Proprio of St. Pius V (11 March, 1571). The most important legislation since then is that of the Con- stitution "Officiorum et Munerum", 25 Jan., 1897 (see Censorship of Books). Paragraph 20 of this document in very concise terms enacts that no one is to publish "libros vel libellos precum" (prayer- books or booklets) as well as works of devotion or religious instruction etc., even though they may seem calculated to foster piety, "without the permission of lawful authority", a somewhat vague phrase which is generally interpreted to mean without the im- primatur of the ordinary: "otherwise", adds the decree, "such a book must be held to be forbidden". Special restrictions have also been imposed in the same Constitution (§ 19) upon the publication of new litanies without the revision and approbation of the ordinary. Moreover, it has since been decided that even then litanies which have only an episcopal approval of this kind cannot be used for public devotions in churches (see Hilgers, "Der Index der verbotencn Biicher", Freiburg, 1904; Vermeersch, "De prohibitione et censura librorum", 4th ed., Tournai, 1906).

Beissel in SHmmen ous Maria-Laach LXXVII (July to October, 1909) ; Burton, Life of Bishop Challoner. I (London, 1907), 130 sq.; Gillow in The Tablet (27 Dec, 18S4; 10 Jan., 1885); Idem in The Ushaw Magazine (1910); Lingard in The Catholic Miscellany (1830); Kuypers and Bishop in The Book ofCeme (Cambridge, 1902).

Herbert Thurston.

Prayer of Christ, Feast of the, occurs on the Tuesday after Septuagesima (double major). Its ob- ject is to commemorate the prolonged prayer which Christ offered in Gethsemane in our behalf in prepa- ration for His Sacred Passion. The Office insists on the great importance of prayer. The feast is placed at the beginning of Lent to remind us that the penitential season is above all a time of prayer. The Office prob- ably was composed by Bishop Struzzieri of Todi, at the suggestion of St. Paul of the Cross (d. 1775), and, together with the other six offices by which the mys- teriesof Christ's Passionare celebrated (see Passion of Christ, Feast of the), was approved by Pius VI. The hymns were composed by Fatati (Schulte, "Hymnen des rom. Brev."). Outside of the Congregation of St. Paul this feast was adopted later than any of the other fea,sts of the Pa-ssion. It is not found in the pToprium of Salerno (1793) nor in that of Livorno (1809). Other dioceses took it up only after the city of Rome had adopted it (18.31). It has not yet been inserted in the Baltimore Ordo.

NlLLES, Kal. manuale utriusque ecclesice (Innabruek. 1892). F. G. HOLWECK.

Prayers for the Dead. See Dead, Praters for the; Purgatory.

Preacher (Concionator). See Ecclesiastes.

Preacher Apostolic, a dignitary of the pontifical household. As a regular function, under special regulations, this office was established by Paul IV, in 1555, and formed a part of the great scheme of reforms which that pope was anxious to carry out. The innovation was somewhat unpopular among the prelates, as the preacher Apostolic had to expoimd wholesome truths before the papal Court, and remind them of their respective duties. Before 1555 several members of the regular clergy, especially of the Franciscans, had preached in presence of the Roman Court. In the period following, among those who filled the office of preacher Apostolic were Alonso Salmer6n, companion of Saint Ignatius, Francis Toleto, S.J., who held the position during seven pontificates, Anselmus Marzatti, Francis Cassini, and Bonaventure Barberini, ISIinor Capuchins; Toleto, Marzatti, and Cassini were elevated to the cardinalate. By the Brief of 2 ISIareh, 1753, directed to Father Michael Angelo Franceschi, then preacher Apostolic, Benedict XIV conferred the said dignity in perpeluutn upon the Capuchin Order, because of "the example of Christian piety and religious per- fection, the splendour of doctrine and the Apostolic zeal" to be found in their institute. Two of the preachers Apostolic during the past century deserve special mention: Lewis Micara of Frascafi, who be- came Cardinal-Vicar of Rome, and Lewis of Trent, chosen to deliver the discourse at the first session of the Vatican Council. At present the office is held by Father Luke of Padua, the former titular. Father Pacific of Sejano, having been elected Minister Gen- eral of the order.

The preacher is chosen by the pontiff, though gen- erallj' presented by the predecessor, or by the supe- rior general of the Capuchins. He is notified by a Rescript of the Cardinal of the Apostolic Palace; and becomes ipso facto a Palatine prelate and a member of the papal household, enjoying all the privileges at- tached to his title. The sermons are delivered in Advent on the Feasts of St. Andrew, St. Nicholas, St. Lucy, and St. Thomas; and on Fridays in Lent, except in Holy Week, when the Passion Sermon is preached on Tuesday.

The papal Court meets in the throne-room in the Vatican; the pulpit occupies the place of the throne. Beside it is placed the bussola, a perforated wooden partition, covered with silver hangings, behind which is the seat of the pontiff. On the appointed day, the preacher with his "socius" is taken to the Vatican in a pontifical carriage, and enters the throne-room; when notified by the master of ceremonies, he draws near the bussola, takes off his mantle, asks the pope's blessing, and ascends the pulpit. The sermon begins with an "Ave Maria", recited aloud and answered by the audience. The pontiff is assisted by his major- domo and the master of the camera. The cardinals occupy the front seats: behind them are the bishops, prelates, and general heads of the Mendicant Orders. Nobody else is admitted without a special permission of the pope. At the close of the sermon, the preacher returns to the pontiff, kisses his feet, takes leave of him, and is driven back to his convent.

Analecia Ord. Cap.; Bull. Cap.; BABONins, Anal, eccl.; Pallavicino, Hist. cone. Trid.

F. Candide.

Preachers, Order of. — As the Order of the Friars Preachers is the principal part of the entire Order of St. Dominic, we shall include under this title the two other parts of the order: the Dominican Sisters (Second Order) and the Brothers of Penitence of St. Dominic (Third Order). First, we shall study the legislation of the three divisions of the order,