Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 17.djvu/617

 PSBCIOUS BLOOD gQl PRECIOUS BLOOD

platform, who dealt with profane topics and ab- preach in the local churches during the time that stained from setting forth divinely revealed truths he himself is preaching or is present at a sermon that might weary or terrify their hearers. About given to the people for some special cause of pub- two weeks later the Sacred Congregation of the Uc interest. A j^&rish priest is under a strict obli- Consistory issued a Decree setting forth rules to gation to explam the word of God in a homily regulate the authorization of preachers in accord- every Sunday and holyday of precept at the chief ance with the papal encyclical and the Code. On Mass especially. He cannot fulfill this duty by 11 November, 1918, the pope again showed the securing a permanent substitute, unless the ordi- great importance he attached to preaching the nary consents to it for a just reason; the ordinary, Gospel in his allocution to the Lenten preachers in however, may allow the sermon to be omitted on Rome. some of the greater feasts and even, where there is In virtue of his office a bishop must personally good cause, on some Sundays. The Church, while preach the Gospel to his flock; as it is impossible not imposing a precept, wishes that there should for him to do this unaided the work is carried on be a short discourse on the Gospel or on some by the parish priests and others approved by him point of Christian doctrine at all Masses attended to preach the Gospel, while he should have a com- by the faithful on feasts of precept whether in mission of vigilance to see that the work is exe- churches or pubhc oratories; if the ordinary pre- cuted properly. Ordinaries and religious superiors scribes this, all priests even exempt religious, must are strictly bound to have their clerics during the obey. The faithful, furthermore, are to be ex- time of their studies thoroughly trained in preach- horted earnestly to be present at sermons fre- ing and made acquainted with the famous models quently.

of sermons bequeathed by the Fathers, to say The matter of sermons must be essentially

nothing of those contained in the New Testament, sacred, dealing chiefly with what Christians must

They may also prescribe for their clerics a yearly do and believe to attain salvation. If the preacher

oral and written examination in preaching for some would treat of other matters not strictly sacred, yet

years after ordination. No one must undertake the in keeping with the house of God, or if he would

ministry of the word unless deputed by a lawful deliver a funeral eulogy, he must not do so without

superior; apart from parish priests, no one may p)ermission of the local ordinary; it is absolutely

preach to the faithful in public churches or ora- forbidden for any preacher to treat of politics in

tories, even those of regulars, not even regular the pulpit. Citations from profane authors and

priests, without the local ordinary's express permis- especially from heretics or infidels must be em-

sion. Permission is granted only to priests or ployed only with the greatest caution, the Sacred

deacons, but in a special case the local ordinary scriptures, the Fathers and Doctors of the Church

might authorize another cleric for a good cause, providing adequate proof and defense of the prin-

but he cannot allow a lay person, even a religious, ciples of Christian morality. The preacher should

to preach. If a sermon is to be given exclusively accommodate himself to the ordinary intelligence

to exempt religious or others such as servants, of his hearers both in reasoning and in the cnoice

pupils, or guests, who live in their house by day of language, and in delivery should observe the

and night, the superior of a clerical institute grants modesty and gravity befitting one who speaks in

the faculty for preaching to his own subjects or Christ's name. Preachers neglecting these prescrip-

to a secular priest or a member of another religious tions are to be admonished and reprehended by

order who has been adjudged competent by his their bishop; if they neglect to amend or if their

ordinary or superior. If a sermon is to be given to offense was grave their faculty of preaching is to

nuns with solemn vows subject to a regular order bg withdrawn by the bishop temporarily or perma-

or to non-clerical religious, permission of both the nently, in case of his own subjects; if the preacher

local ordinary and the religious superior, is to be was an extern or religious the bishop is to forbid

obtained. Local ordinaries must not, without a him to preach again in his diocese and at the same

grave reason, refuse the faculty of preaching to a time to notify the culprit's ordinary or even, in

religious presented by his own superior, or recall it extreme cases, the Holy See.

later^ especially from the entire community at one Kbatxno, Preach the Gospel in Ir. Bed. Ree., XIV (1919)

and the same time; however, religious in order to S^^5vff^^1,!Srnhu*?Qftr^'M "^ ^~*^*»"^ '"^ *'^*''

preach always require the permission of their own *«• ^^H (Philadelphia. 1915). 377-89.

superior. The ordinary or superior is bound in Precioiu Blood, Congregations of the. conscience not to grant the faculty or permission j Congregation of the Most Precious Blood to anvone whose good character haa not been estab- (^f q E.,-XII — 373c), an association of secular lishecf and who has not passed a suitable examina- priests who live in community but take no vows, tion in theology, and the preacher may be sub- bein^ held together by the liond of charity only, jected to another examination if his orthodoxy is ^nd m America by a promise not to leave the corn- questionable ; if the faculty is revoked an appeal niunity without permission of the lawful superior, may be taken. , . The present general superior is Very Rev. Hyacinthe No priest from outside a diocese is to be invited petroni, elected for life, 11 Oct., 1905, to succeed to preach unless the permission of the ordinary of Alovsius Biaschelli ^d. 1905). The mother-house the place where the sermon is to be given has first jg Santo Maria in Trivio in Rome, in the convent been obtained, and he must not consent before garden of which ^ Methodist churcn was erected at being satisfiea as to the preacher's virtue and the time of the confiscation by the Italian Govem- knowledge. The permission is to be sought by a ment. This has been replaced (1922) by a printing parish priest for a sermon to be preached in his office. In Europe, as a rule, members are not ad- parish church or in others depending on it; by the mitted to the congregation until they are at least rector for a church exempt from the jurisdiction of students of philosophy; these pursue their studies the parish priest; by the highest dignitary with the in Rome. At present there are two minor seminaries chapter's consent, for a capitular church; by the for the lower studies at Albano and Patricia. In moderator or chaplain of a confraternity for the America the congregation conducts a college fColiege- confraternity church. A local ordinary may preach ville, Ind.) and parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago in any church, even exempt, in his territory, and, and Dioceses of Cincinnati, Cleveland, Toledo, except in laree cities he may forbid anyone to Fort Wayne, St. Joseph, Kansas City, Lincoln,