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 BASILICA

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BASILICA

signed by several French bishops, all of whom had been able to appreciate the work done by the com- munity, and to testify to the piety and zeal of its members. The Holy See was pleased to declare the society worthy of praise, and in 1S63 Pius IX con- firmed this decree, granting at the same time certain privileges and imposing certain restrictions on the possessions of the community. A few years ago, the constitutions were again sent to Rome, but the Holy See wished to make some changes in the administra- tion of the community, and these are now being tested ^Wth a view to their final approval. When the recent decree banishing religious orders from France was put in force, the Basilians had colleges in Annonay, Perigueux, Aubenas, Privas, and Ver- noux, in France; Blidah and Bone in Algiers; and Plymouth in England. All these, with the exception of the last, were transferred to seculars or confiscated,

the commercial, the classical, and the philosophical. Among the more prominent of those who made their studies, either partially or entirely, at St. Michael's were the Archbishop of Toronto and the Bishops of Hamilton, Peterborough, London, and Sault Ste. Marie in Canada, and Albany and Columbus in the United States.

The -American Province includes four other colleges and numerous parishes. The colleges are Assumption College, Sandwich, Canada; St. Basil's College, Waco; St. Thomas's College, Houston, and St. Mary's Semi- nary, La Porte, in Texas. Of the parishes in charge of the Basilians, the most important are, St. Basil's and the Holy Rosary, Toronto, Sandwich, Amherst- burg. and Owen Sound in Canada, and St. Anne's, Detroit. The novitiate of the community and the scholasticate are in Toronto. The novitiate lasts for one year, after which the members remain under

Interior of Sant' Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna

and the religious obliged to scatter until more favourable times.

In 1852, Mgr. de Cliarbonnel, Bishop of Toronto, Canada, requested the Basilians to found a college in his diocese. Accordingly, a small number were sent there, and opened a school which has developed into the present St. Michael's College, the head- quarters of the Basilians in America. It was opened in a small house, but was soon moved to a wing of the bishop's palace which had been built for the purpose. In September, 1855, the cornerstone of the present building was laid. Since then various additions have been made, and the college is now able to accommodate a large number of students. The first superior was Father Soulerin, who managed the college from 1852 to 1865, when he was elected superior general of his community. St. Michael's is federated with the University of Toronto, its president is ex officio a member of the Senate of the university and of the university council, and it also appoints two other representatives to the senate. There are three courses of study open to its students,

temporal vows for three years. .\s no one can enter the society who does not intend to become a priest, the final vows are not taken until the subdiaconate, so that, if at the end of three years the scholastic is not ready for Holy orders, he renews his temporal vows. St. Basil's College, Waco, Texas, was founded in 1889. The course of studies includes both the commercial and classical departments. St. Thomas's College, Houston, Texas, was founded in 1900. It is a day school. St. Mary's Seminary, La Porte, Texas, was opened in October, 1901, by the Rt. Rev. N. A. Gallagher, Bishop of Galveston. Its primary object is the education of young men for the priesthood, but there is also maintained in connexion with the seminary a college in which boys and young men are prepared for any of the learned professions. It is under the direct supervision of the Bishop of Galveston.

J. C. Plomer.

Basilica (o-roa ^ao-iXix^, or fiaaiKeioi) signifies a kingly, and secondarily a beautiful, hall. The name