Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 14.djvu/151

 SODALITY

127

SODALITY

ti'inity of the Child Jesus was also estabhshed at licthlehem somewhat later than 1905 by the Christian brothers. In 190S the society received its indul- uriices and in 1909 Pius X made it an archconfrater- iiity with the right of aggregation for the whole world. Since 1910 not only children but also their parents, Mild in general all who are interested in the training of rliildren, can become members. The noble aim of the MHlality is to implore the Divine Child to protect and I ili'.ss all children, especially those in schools where re- liLiion is not taught. Applications for membership are made to the director of the Archconfraternity of il'.e Child Jesus, Bethlehem, Palestine ("Acta .\p. Sid.", I, 757 sq.; Hilgers, "Appendice" in Beringer, op. cit.). In 1SS9 the Capuchin Father Cyprian fiiunded at Ehrenbreitstein the "Seraphic Charity" till' endangered youth. Its object is the rescue of re- liLiiously and morally endangered chilch-en, and their protection also in lateryears after the periods of school and apprenticeship are over. The members pay two and one-half cents monthly. In twenty-two years iiinrethan 10,000 poor children have been aided, and M'\ en new institutions have been founded, at a total I xpcnditure of $1,118,000. In Germany the society has 350,000 members; it is also estabhshed in Au.stria, Switzerland, Italy, and the United States, and has a total membership of over 500,000. The money is lollected by 12,000 patrons and patronesses, who aid in t!ie housing and supervision .of the children. The soi'iety received its indulgences in 1902 from Leo XIII, who blessed anil recommended it (cf. "Analecta Ord. .Min. Cap. ",1902, 171).

(4) There are a number of sodalities very beneficial in their results for the sanctification and perfection of jiriests. Not only have Congregations of the Blessed \ irgin ]\Iary been formed especially for priests, but tlii're are also other special associations of priests. -Mi'iition has already been made in the article Pur- 1 ; \TORi.\L Societies of the " Priests' Association under till' Protect ion of St . Benedict for the Rehef of the Poor S. luls in Purgatory ". See also Priests' Edcharistic Ikague; Priests' Communion League. For the " I'ious Union of St. Paul the Apostle", see Priests,

\ fraternities OF. See also Apostolic Union of iL.\R Priests. For "Associatio perseverantiae

' rdotalis" see Priests, Confraternities of. III. I la re are also the "Associatio sacerdotahs repara- tionis" and the "League for Sacerdotal Holiness", for priests who strive after higher perfection. Cf. "ActaS. Sedis", XLI, 170 sqq.; "Acta Apost. Sedis", I, 739; II, 47-4 sqq.; also the pamphlet "Ligue de Saintete saoerdotale", 4th ed., 1909; and Hilgers, "Appendice" in Beringer, "Les Indulgences", 72 sqq. After the death of the founder of the league, P. Feyerstein, P. Reimsbach (28 rue Werby, Bar- le-Duc, France) became its director. Communica- tions may be addres.sed to the sub-director of the League, Abb6 Lachambre (101 rue du Pont ^ la Faulx, Peruwelz, Hainaut, Belgium). Those desiring fur- ther knowledge as to the origin and history of such confraternities of priests are referred to the article Purgatorial Societies, and for the history of the "Fraternitas Romana" in particular to Armellini, "Le chiese di Roma" (2iid ed., Rome, 1891), 20 sqq. (5) The "Pious Association of Mass-servers and Sac- ristans, under the prot(>ction of St. John Berchmans of the Society of Jesus", .an association for acolytes and sacristans. This society w.as confirmed in 1865 by Pius IX, and, with tlie permission of the bishop, can be introduced anywhere without further formalities. Pius X also granted indulgences to the society (cf. '; Acta S. Sed. ", I, 689 sq., 699 sqq.). (6) The Catho- lic Journeymen's Societies, established by Adolph Kolping, the father of these a,s.sociations, are well known (.see Gesellenvereine). (7) The "Society of St. Raphael", for the protection of emigrants, established in 1871, originally for German emigrants.

In 1883 the "American Raphael Society " was founded; other countries also have their sjjccial associations of this name, as Austria, Belgium, and Italy. Since its establishment the society has proved a great blessing to many thousands of poor emigrants (see Emigrant Aid Societies). (8) Book .societies have been founded, especially in Austria and Germany, for the spread of good books (cf. Beringer, o]). cit.). Con- cerning the "Society of St. Charles Borromeo", see BoRROMEO, The Society of St. Charles. Various other church societies of similar nature have been founded, especially in France, as societies for the sick, for labourers and mechanics, for young working- women, for country people, and even for travellers (Beringer, op. cit.).

(9) The "Confraternity of the Worthy First Com- munion and of Perseverance", established at Prouille, France, in 1891. In 1893 the Dominicans took charge of its direction. In 1896 the society was confirmed by Leo XIII; in 1910 Pius X transferred its head- quarters to Rome, where the general of the Domini- cans is entrusted with the entire guidance of this association. The object of this confraternity is to obtain for children the grace of a good First Com- munion and further perseverance in goodness. It can be established anywhere, and all, without excep- tion, who desire to work for the aims of the confrater- nity can become members of the same and share in the indulgences and privileges. Applications for the estabhshment of such confraternities or for the per- sonal right to take members into the society should be made to the general of the Dominicans at Rome (CoUegio Angehco, 15 Via San Vitale). A similar confraternity was erected at Rome in the Church of San Claudio, and by Brief of Pius X (4 Jan., 1912) was rai.sed to the Unio Primaria with the right of aggregation for the whole world (Act. Apost. Sed., IV, 49 sq.). Little requires to be said as to the value and advantages of the sodalities. Their aims are un- doubtedly the highest; the means used to attain these aims are the noblest. Consequently the results are always the best, and often astonish both friends and foes; therefore the most competent judges, the popes and the saints, have repeatedly recommended these as- sociations to Catholics. The history of the sodalities and the results of their labours, as publicly exhibited and known to all the world, loudly proclaim the useful- ness of these associations for all eras. As new times bring new demands, fresh and noble branches full of strength and renewed vitality grow on the fruitful tree of the associational life of the Cathohc Church. Without exaggeration it may be said that ordinarily the most zealous and active Catholics are brought to- gether in the sodalities in order to pursue the noblest aims. It is true that the influence of the sodalities, especially of the first group, cannot bo estimated by measure and weight. However, the Christian and Catholic who knows why man is upon earth, knows also that a single act of love of God is of inestimable value. He knows also what a power there is in united prayer, what miracles it can work. As proof need only be mentioned the "Apostleship of Pr.ayer" and the "Messengers of the Heart of Jesus". Moreover, these societies of piety and prayer labour ordinarily in the most unselfish, self-sacrificing manner, and are filled with a most noble-minded zeal for .souls. This is shown by the innumerable hosts of poor souls who owe their releaise from Purgatory to t he ( 'onfraternities for Poor Souls, and by the hundreds of thousands of poor sinners who owe their eternal salvation to the sodalities. The salvation of innuincrahle souls of poor heathens is attributable to the single Society of .St. Francis Xavier and the single .Vssoci.'it ion of the Holy Childhood. The society mentioned al)Ove for the Propagation of the Faith alone has collected since its foundation $90,000,000 for heathen mis- sions. (Beringer, op. cit.; Seeberger, "Key to the