Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 5.djvu/181

 DOWLING

147

DOWN

Sept., 160-1 (in Bizzarri, Collectanea, 269), ordaining that the supernumerary religious should deposit a dower equal to twice that of the others and amounting to at least 400 ecus (about $400). This was the mini- mum, and each house was to set its own figure, to be regulated according to circumstances. Though de- posited at the time of receiving the habit, the convent did not acquire possession of the dower until the ceremony of profession, and if the novice left before being professed, it was restored to her (cf. Council of Trent,Sess. XXV, cap.xvi). Dispensation from solemn vows was, it may almost be said, unknown, and the obli- gatory restitution of dower had not been provided for in the case of a religious leaving her community; it was the result of equity rather than of law. But since the decree " Perpensis" of 3 May, 1902, which requires of all religious under solemn vows a probationary period of three years imder simple vows, this restitu- tion has become a rule. Article X says: "The dower established for each monastery should be deposited before the profession of simple vows"; andArticle XII continues: " If a sister who has professed simple vows retires from the monasterj% either after being dis- pensed from her vows by the Holy See or after sen- tence of dismissal (before the solemn vows), the capital of her dower is to be restored to her, but not the in- terest."

Such is also the general rule for congregations under simple vows. Stipulations concerning the dower are very clearly set forth in the " Normse ", rules in use by the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars for the approbation of religious under simple vows, pub- lished 28 June, 1901, ch. vii, articles 91-94. Each congregation of nuns should settle in its statutes the dower, equal in all cases, for the choir religious; it should even establish a lesser dower (but the same for each one) to be deposited by the lay, or assist- ant, sisters. The superior cannot receive a religious without a dower or with an insufficient dower, except by permission of the bishop, if the congregation be diocesan, or bj- that of the Congregation of Reli- gious, if the institute be approved by Rome. The required dower must be duly pledged to the congre- gation prior to the taking of the habit and must be deposited shortly before the profession. Thus de- posited, such a dower cannot be alienated, that is, it cannot be used by the congregation in whatever way it may deem fit, as, for instance, to meet building ex- penses or discharge debts, but must be prudently and advantageously invested. Even though the funds be administered by the mother-house or the provincial, the income from each dower must be given to the house where the religious resides who brought in that dower. Although no longer the property of the nun, the dower becomes entirely the property of the institute only at the death of the subject, for whom, until then, it must remain set apart, so that, should a religious withdraw from a community either on the expiration of her temporary vows, or after a dispensation, or finally on account of dismissal, the capital of her dower must be restored to her.

Ferraris, Prompla Bibliotheca, s. v. Monialts, art. 11; Bat- TAN'DIER, Guide canonique pour les constitutions des swurs d v€Bux simples (Paris. 1905), nos. 135-140; Bastien. Directoire canonique h Vusage des congregations h voeux simples (Maredsous, 1904), nos. 109-114, 198. 214; Pkummer, Manuale juris ecclesi- aatid (Freiburg im Br., 1907), II, 43.

A. BOUDINHON.

Dowling, Joseph Thomas. See Hamilton, Dio- cese OF.

Down and Connor, Diocese of (Dunensis et Con- NORENsis), in lichind. A line drawn fromWhitehouse on Belfast L(iut;li due west to the Clady River, thence by the river itself to Muckamore and Lough Neagh, marks the boundary between the Diocese of Down and the Diocese of Connor. North of this line to the sea and the Bann, including the greater part of the

County Antrim and a small portion of Derry, is the Diocese of Connor. South of the line, the remainder of Antrim, except the parish of Aghalee, belonging to Dromore, belongs to the Diocese of Down, as also the whole of the County Down, except the baronies of Iveagh and part of Kinelearty. The extent of the united dioceses is 597,450 Irish acres (about 576 sq. miles).

Each diocese was a collection of ancient sees. With- in the limits of Down, and founded in St. Patrick's time, there were: Raholp, founded by St. Tassach, Gortgrib by Vinoch, Bright by Loarn, Mahee Island by St. Mochay, Maghera by St. Donard. There were also: Moville, founded by St. Finnian, and Bangor by St. Comgall, the latter an abbey, but often ruled in aftertimes by a bishop. St. Fergus is named as first Bishop of Down. In ancient times the place was called Dun Celtair, Celtair being one of the Red Branch knights. Afterwards it was called Dun-da-Leth- Glaisse, "the fort of the two half-chains". According to tradition two young chiefs had long pined in King Laeghaire's prison. St. Patrick miraculously struck off the chain which bound them, and the prisoners, thus

Church of Coleraine, Killowen

released, hastened to their father's residence at Dun Celtair, flinging from them the pieces of the severed chain; hence the new name. Afurtherchangeoccurred after St. Patrick's death. Dying at Saul (493), he was buried at Down, which then contained no church. Subsequently the remains of St. Brigid were brought there from Kildare, as were some relics of St. Columba from lona. Meanwhile the ancient Dun Celtair had become Downpatrick, a town overshadowing all the neighbouring towns, the capital also of the Diocese of Down, which in process of time absorbed all the sur- rounding sees.

Like Down, Connor, founded in 480 by St. Macnisse, was a collection of smaller sees. These were Kilroot, Drumtullagh, Culfeightrim, Coleraine, InispoUen, Ar- moy, and Rashee. The date of the founding of each of these sees is uncertain, as akso the dates of their absorption; nor can a regular succession of bishops be discovered. By the twelfth century all the sees had ceased to exist except Connor. Its western boundary then was the Roe; but by the Synod of Rath-Breasail (1118), when the number and limits of the Irish dio- ceses were fixed, the Bann was made the western boundary of Connor, and Down was joined to it, but only for a brief period. In 1124 St. Slalachy became Bishop of Connor, which was separated from Down. The two dioceses were again united in 1134, when Malachy became Archbishop of Armagh ; but when he resigned the primacy, in 1137, he became Bishop of Down, again dividing the two .sees. This separation was recognized by the Synod of Kells (1152), and con- tinued till 1441, when John Cely, Bishop of Down, was deprived for having violated his vow of chastity. Meanwhile the annals record the death of many dis- tinguished men, bishops and others, connected with