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 SODALITY

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SODALITY

ment was founded (1501) in tho Church of San Lo- renzo in Damaso by the devotion and zeal of a poor priest and four plain citizens. Julius II confirmed this sodality by a Brief of 21 Aug., 1508, and wished to be entered himself as a member in the register of the confraternity. It is not, however, this sodality but another Roman confraternity that has been the fruitful parent of the countless confraternities of the Most Holy Sacrament which exist to-day everj'where in the Catholic world (cf. Quetif-Echard, I, 197 sq.). This second confraternity, due to the zeal of the Do- minican Father, Thomas Stella, was erected by Paul III on 30 Nov., 1539, in the Dominican Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva. This confraternity alone is understood when mention is simply made of the Con- fraternity of the Sacrament. Along with the hono- rary title of archconfraternity it received numerous in- dulgences and privileges by the Bull of 30 Nov., 1539. The indulgences were renewed by Paul V. It was made known at its inception that this confraternity could be established in parish churches, and that such confraternities should share in the indulgences of the archconfraternity without formal connexion with the Roman confraternity. This privilege was recon- firmed at various times by the popes, who expressed the wish that the bishops would establish tlie confra- ternity everj'where in all parish churches (cf. Tacchi- Venturi, "La vita reUgiosa in Itaha durante la prima eta della Compagnia di Gesii", Rome, 1910, 191 sqq.).

In the nineteenth centurj', however, confraternities for the adoration of the I\Iost Holy Sacrament were also established in other countries, and these now ex- tend all over the Catholic world. Mention is made in the article PuRGATORi.\L Societies of the "Archcon- fraternity of the Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament under the Protection of .St. Benedict." This association, that was founded in 1877 under Pius IX in Austria, was transferred to North America in 1893 during the pontificate of Leo XIII, and in 1910 received from Pius X the right of extension through- out the entire world.

In 1848 a pious woman, Anne de Meeds, estab- lished at Brussels in Belgium a religious society which had as its object to unite the adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament with work for poor churches. In 1853 this society was raised to an archconfraternity for Belgium; soon after this separate archconfrater- nities of the same kind were erected for Bavaria, Aus- tria, and Holland. At the same time there sprang from the original society a female religious congrega- tion which, after receiving papal confirmation, estab- lished itself at Rome, and since 1879 has conducted the archconfraternity from Rome. It has authority to associate everywhere with itself confraternities of the same name and purpose, and to share with these all its indulgences. The archconfraternity has received large indulgences and privileges, and labours with much success in nearly all parts of the world. En- trance into this confraternity is especially to be recom- mended to all altar societies. The full title of the con- fraternity is "The Archconfraternity of the Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Work of Poor Churches". Any information desired as to the working of the confraternity and the condi- tions of its establishment may be obtained from its headquarters, Casa delle Adoratrici perpetue, 4 Via Noinentana, Rome. Since 1900 the religious associa- tion of the Sisters of the Perpetual Adoration has had a house with a chapel at Washington, LT. S. A., from which they extend and conduct the confraternity in America.

The "Society of the Most Holy Sacrament", founded by the Venerable Pierre-Julien Eyniard (d. lS(i8) also sought., by means of a new confraternity es- tablished by it, to incite the faithful to adoration and zeal for the glorification of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. In 1897 this society was raised to an

archconfraternity with the right of aggregation throughout the world. In 1898 its summary' of in- dulgences was confirmed by the Congregation of In- dulgences. The main condition of membership is a continuous hour of adoration of the Most Holy Sacra- ment once a month. The headquarters of the con- fraternity are at Rome, in the church of the Fathers of the Most Holy Sacrament, whence the society has the name of "The Archconfraternity of the Most Holy Sacrament in the Church of Sts. Andrew and Claudius at Rome" (San Claudio, 160 Via del Poz- zefto, Rome).

"The Perpetual Adoration of Cathohc Nations" was founded at Rome in 1883, its purpose being the union of the nations and peoples of the world for per- petual solemn expiatorj- prayer in order to avert God's just wrath and to implore His aid in the grievous troubles of the Church. The association is conducted by the Redemptorist Fathers in the Church of St. Joachim at Rome, lately built in mem- ory of the jubilee of Leo XIII as priest and bishop. Special countries are assigned to each one the different days of the week for the adoration of reparation, e. g. Thursday, North and Central America; Friday, South America. The rector of the Church of St. Joachim (Prati di Castello, Rome) is the director-general of the association, which has the right to appoint diocesan directors in all countries, including missionarj' ones. In order to enter the association, application should be made to one of these directors or to the director general. Two other associations were founded in France for the purpose of expiation and atonement; these have already extended over the world. One is the "Association of the Communion of Reparation", the other the "Archconfraternity of the Holy Mass of Reparation ' ' . The ' ' Associat ion of the Communion of Reparation", established in 18.54 by Father Drevon, S.J ., was canonically erected in 1865 at Paray-le-Monial, in the monastery where the Di\ine Saviour had com- manded Blessed Margaret Mary Alacoque to make reparation by Holy Communion for the ingratitude of men. This is also the purpose of the entire associa- tion, which can be canonically erected anywhere. The "Archconfraternity of the Holy Mass of Reparation" owes its origin to a poor widow of Paris, in June, 1862. Each member makes it his duty to attend a second Mass on Sundaj's and feast-days as expiation for those who sinfully fail to attend Mass on these days. In 1886 the confraternity was erected into an archcon- fraternity with the right of aggregation for France. At a later date other countries received in like manner a similar archconfraternity. Even in parts of the world where no such archconfraternit j' exists it is easy to be received into the confraternity. By a Decree of 7 Sept., 1911, of the Holy Office, "all former indul- gences were cancelled, and richer ones, to be shared equally by all the archconfraternities and confrater- nities of the Holy Mass of Reparation, were granted (Ad. Apost. Sed., Ill, 476 sq.). In this class belongs also the "Ingolstadt Mass Association". (See Por- G.\TORi.'iL Societies.)

(5) As early as 1666 confraternities of the Blessed Jean Eudes for the united veneration of the Heart of Jesus and the Heart of Mary were established. It was not until after the death of Blessed Margaret Mary Alacoque that there arose confraternities for the promotion of theadoration of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the manner desired by her. During the years 1697- 1764 more than a thousand such confraternities were erected by papal Briefs and granted indulgences. At Rome the first "Confraternity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus" was established in 1729 by the efforts of Father Joseph Gallifet, S. J. This confraternity still exists at the Church of St. Theodore, at the foot of the Palatine. The membership of this "Confra- ternity of the Sacconi" has included celebrated and holy men. Only men, however, can belong to it.