Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 14.djvu/147

 SODALITY

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SODALITY

Consequently it was given to another confraternity of the Sacred Heart to spread from Rome over the entire world. This is the sodahtv estabhshed in 1797 bv Father Fehci, S.J., in the little Church of Our Lady ad Pineam, called in Cappella. The sodalitj- was raised in 1803 to an archconfraternity, and was after- ward transferred by Leo XII to the Church of Santa Maria della Pace. Application to join this confra- ternity is made at the church. More than 10,000 con- fraternities have already united with it. The con- fraternities of the Sacred Heart erected in Belgium can unite with the archconfraternity of Paray-le-Mo- nial, those established in France can either join this archconfraternity or that at Moulins. In addition a new confraternity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was established in 1876 at Montmartre, Paris. In 1894 this society received the right to incorporate into itself other confraternities of the same name and object in any part of the world and to share its indulgences with these. The object of this confraternitj', like that of the great church at Montmartre, is expiatory, and the society is to pray for the freedom of the pope and the salvation of human society.

The "Archconfraternity of Prayer and Penance in honour of the Heart of Jesus", founded at Dijon in 1879 with the right of aggregation for the entire world, has, since 1894, been established at the church of Montmartre. A wish expressed by the Divine Sa- viour long before to Blessed Margaret Mary Alacoque was fulfilled on 14 March, 1863. On this day the "Guard of Honour of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus'" was founded in the monastery of the Visita- tion at Bourg-en-Bresse, France. The name ex- presses the object of this sodality, which is to collect faithful hearts around the Saviour for constant ad- oration and love and to make reparation to him for the ingratitude of men. In 1S64 the association at Bourg- en-Bresse was confirmed as a confraternity, and in 1878 was made an archconfraternity for France and Belgium. In 1879 the confraternity was established at Rome in the Church of Sts. Vincent and Anas- tasius, and defined as an archconfraternity for Italy and all countries which have no archconfraternity of their own. In 1883 the confraternity of Brooklyn, New York, conducted by the Sisters of the Visitation, was confirmed by Leo XIII as an archconfraternity, with the right of aggregation for the I'nited States. For the "Apostleship of Prayer" see The Catholic Enctclopedi.\, vol. I, 633; Hilgers, "Das Goldene Buchlein", Ratisbon, 1911. In 1903 Leo XIII es- tablished at the Church of St. Joachim at Rome a special "Archconfraternity of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus", granting it the right to unite sodalities bearing the same name as itself. The confraternity is intended to offer in a special manner adoration, gratitude, and love to the Heart of .Tesus for the in- stitution of the Holy Eucharist. Mention should also be made of the "Archconfraternity of the Holy .\gony of Our Lord Jesus Chri.st", conducted by the Lazarist Fathers in Paris, which was established in 1862 in the Diocese of Lyons and waa defined in 1865 as an archconfraternity for this diocese. In 1873 the con- fraternity at Paris was declared an archconfrater- nity for all France, and in 1894 it received the right of aggregation for the whole world. The "Arch- confraternity of the Holy Hour" is also connected with a wish expressed by the Saviour and a reve- lation of Himself given in 1673. At that time the Sa\iour demanded of Blessed Margaret Mary Ala- coque an hour of union with Himself in prayer at mid- night on Thursdaj's in memorj' of His Agony on the Mount of Olives. In 1829 this sodality was founded at Paraj-le-Monial, and finally in 1911 it received the right of aggregation for the entire world (Acta Apost. Sed., Ill, 1.37). The meml)ers can observe the holy hour of prayer from Thursd.ay afternoon onwards. \ Bimilar society was founded at Toulouse in 1885 and

canonically erected in 1907, under the title of "The Holy Perpetual Hour of Gethsemani ". In 1909 it re- ceived indulgences from Pius X (Acta. Ap. Sed., I, 483), and in 1912 new indulgences with the right of aggregation for the whole of France.

(6) The confraternities mentioned above are also in part sodalities of the Passion, particularly those which especially venerate Christ's Agony. Besides these should be mentioned particularly "The Arch- confraternity of the Mo.st Precious Blood". This society was founded on 8 Dec, 1808, in the Church of S. Nicola in Carcere at Rome by the saintly Fran- cesco Albertini, who died in 1819 as Bishop of Terra- cina. The members pledge themsches to a special veneration of Christ's Passion, and in particular to offer the Precious Blood to the Heavenly Father for the expiation of sins, for the conversion of sinners, for the needs of the Church, and for the consolation of the poor souls. In 1809 the confraternity was canoni- cally erected; in 1815 it was richly endowed with in- dulgences, and in the same year was raised to an arch- confraternity. Applications for membership can be made to the director of the archconfraternity at S. Nicola in Carcere, or to the Missioners of the Precious Blood, 1 Via Poli Crociferi, Rome, for since 1851 the general of these missioners has had aU necessary powers. Blessed Caspar of Buffalo, founder of the mission houses of the Precious Blood, did much to promote this confraternity. He was beatified in 1894. A rescript of 3 Aug., 1895, of tlie Congregation of In- dulgences granted in perpetuity that the bishops of the L^nited States of North .\merica and Canada pro sun arbitrio el prudcntia might erect the Confrater- nity of the Precious Blood in aU parish churchea without regard to their location, that these then could unite with the society at Rome, the "Unio Prima- Primaria", in the church of the Missioners of the Precious Blood, and could share in its indulgences and privileges (cf. "Amerikan Pastoralblatt ", 1897,104). See Precious Blood, Archconfraternity of the Most.

Rehgious associations have also been formed to en- courage the practice of the Holy Way of the Cross, especially the "Pious Association of the Perpetual Way of the Cross", and the " A.s.sociation of the Liv- ing Way of the Cross". Both societies are under the care of the Franciscans (cf. Mocchegiani, "CoUectio Indulg.", no. 1264, sqq.). In 1884 the "Archcon- fraternity of the Holy Face" was formed at Tours as a work of expiation. It was provided with in- dulgences and in 1885 was erected into an arch- confraternity for the whole world. The insignia of the brotherhood is the Face of the Suffering Saviour on the veil of St. Veronica. The members wear this picture on a scapular, a cro.ss, or a medal. Lastly, there was founded in 1904 at the congress in honour of the Blessed Virgin at Rome the "Pious Union of the Crucifix of Pardon". This a.sso- ciation has for its object the reconciliation with God of nations, families, and individuals. The head- quarters of the association are in the Church of the Annunciation at Lyons. The badge of the members is a specially-consecrated crucifix (cf. Beringer, op. cit., Appendice by Hilgers, Paris, 1911).

(7) The Confraternities of tlie Mother of God, which have been confirmed for the entires Church, ex- ist in such large numbers that all cannot be given here. Especially numerous are the .sodalities and as.socia- tions erected in honour of the Bles.sed Virgin in indi- vidual cities, dioceses, districts, or countries. The most important, most widely extenderl, and best- known of the confraternities of the BIes.sed Virgin are: (a) the "Confraternity of the Holy Rosary" (q. v.); in the article concerning it the "Per- petual Rosary" and the "Living Rosary" are also mentioned; (b) the "Confr.aternity of the Scapiilar of Our Lady of Mount Carmel" (see Scapular); (c)