DOCUMENTS

LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XV TO THE PRIORESS AND COMMUNITY AT ST. MARY'S, CABRA, ON THE OCCASION OF THE BICENTENARY OF THEIR FOUNDATION IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF DUBLIN

(May 1, 1919)

AD RELIGIOSAS FEMINAS ANTISTITAM AC SORORES DOMINICANAS HIBERNIAE: EXACTUM A CONDITA IPSARUM FAMILIA DUBLINI SAECULUM SECUNDUM COMMEMORAT ATQUE LAETATUR

Dilectae in Christo filiae, salutem et apostolicam benedictionem.— Exactum non ita pridem saeculum secundum a condita Dublini familia vestra et exiens iam primum, ex quo, latius ea proferens locum tentorii sui, se Cabram contulit, una vobis libet eademque coniungere recordatione ac laetitia. Optimo id sane consilio. Dublinensis enim et Cabrensis familia non disciplina solum ac magisterio sociantur, sed ortu, fortunae vicissitudinibus ac rerum plurimarum memoria, cum altera alterius germen sit ac generosa propago et, uti bene nostis, ab unius vita, vita alterius disiuncta numquam fuerit. Ad haec, uti edita a maioribus, per varias temporum aetates, virtutum exempla, quo plura simul subiiciuntur oculis, eo ad imitandum excitant magis, ita collata iisdem, longo annorum spatio, divina beneficia, cum omnia simul considerantur, grandescunt quodammodo et grati animi sensus facilius commovent.

Nos quidem, qui uti propria habere solemus decora dominicani Ordinis, libenter scitote cogitatione apud vos per hos dies diversari ac Isolatio haud exiguo animum vobiscum referre ad pias illas sorores vestras, quae primae Dublini commoratae sunt. Videre enim in illis propemodum videmur quamdam priorum christianorum imaginem, cum eaedem fere leges eaedemque poenae, eadem invidia catholici nominis. hostium coegerint pusillum gregem occultare se et continere domi. Sed num aquae multae poterunt exstinguere caritatem? Prudenter utique, sed nihil timidae sorores illae vestrae, inter objectas undique difficultates et ipso quandoque capitas periculo, religioni inservire eiusque caussam acrius in dies tueri numquam destiterunt, omnibus, locuples est historia testis, omnia factae.

Sed, elapso iam saeculo, deferbuerant odia in catholicos, remiserant iniquae leges; et parvum granum sinapis, quod dominicana caritas et plantaverat et rigaverat, quid ni incrementum haberet et magna VOL. XIV-11

fieret arbor? Divina id ope factum accepimus: ut ipsi Nos vidimus volucres caeli, id est pueros puellulasque, quibus praesertim christiane educandis vos datis operam, venire plurimos et habitare in ramis eius. Re quidem vera Dublini et Cabrae primum et postea in innumeris iis domibus, quas Cabrensis familia aperuit in America, in Australia, in Nova Zelanda et in ipsa Africa, virgines dominicanae, positae tandem in ampliori libertatis umbra, una cum studiis, opera multiplicarunt et fructus, magno, uti in aperto est, cum Ecclesiae et civitatis bono.

Haec omnia ea potissimum de caussa commemorantur, ut oblata, occasione, ad eas vos virtutes hortemur, quas sorores vestrae suo vobis exemplo maxime commendarunt; ad christianam, dicimus, animi fortitudinem et ad actuosam caritatem. Sed eas hortari vix opus est, quae ad omnes christianas laudes sua sponte properant. Vos vero, pro vestra in Nos pietate, dum inter constituta sollemnia gratias, uti par est, Deo agetis, aliquid supplicationis pro Nobis facite. Videtis quae vertantur tempora, quantae Nos urgeant sollicitudinem caussae. Valde indigemus divino auxilio ut Ecclesiam, per tot aspera et adversa gradientem, valeamus sapienter regere ac tueri fortiter.

Caelestium auspex munerum Nostraeque testis benevolentiae apostolica sit benedictio, quam vobis, dilectae in Christo filiae, ceterisque omnibus sororibus vestris, peramanter in Domino impertimus.

Datum Romae apud sanctum Petrum, die I maii MCMXIX, Pontificatus Nostri anno quinto.

(Translation)]

BENEDICTUS PP. XV.

TO OUR BELOVED CHILDREN IN CHRIST, TO THE

PRIORESS AND TO THE

SISTERS OF THE ORDER OF ST. DOMINIC, AT CABRA, IRELAND

BENEDICT XV, POPE

BELOVED CHILDREN IN CHRIST,

HEALTH AND APOSTOLIC BENEDICTION.

Quite recently you completed the bicentenary of the foundation of your community in Dublin, and it is now one hundred years since your Order increased the sphere of its labours by removing to the more congenial soil of Cabra. It was, therefore, a happy inspiration on your part to commemorate both anniversaries by a common remembrance and a common joy. The Dublin and Cabra foundations are linked together not merely by the bonds of rule and discipline, but by the strong ties of a common origin; by like vicissitudes of fortune, and by a common history. The Cabra family is, in fact, the fruitful growth and offspring of the Dublin foundation, and the spirit which has ever animated it is the same which it received from the Dublin family. The union of the two celebrations has another advantage, for it enables you to contemplate, as it were, under one view, the exemplary virtues of both communities, and the more numerous are the virtues held up to you for your imitation the more powerful will be the incentives to practise them. In this way also you will obtain a fuller view of the graces and blessings

God has bestowed on you during a long series of years, and your hearts will expand with greater gratitude, and your celebration will be the outpouring of more grateful hearts.

We, Ourselves, have a special admiration for the glories of the Dominican Order, and would have you know that it is with much consolation We shall be with you in spirit during the days of your celebration, when you do honour to those pious Sisters who founded the Dublin and Cabra Communities. In them we see imaged the life of the early Christians. Like the early Christians these good Sisters were subjected to iniquitous laws and punishments, and a hatred of the Catholic name forced them to hide themselves from the enemy and to serve God in concealment. But many waters cannot quench the fire of charity. With prudence, but with a fortitude that was unflinching, these first daughters of St. Dominic, in the face of every obstacle and often even at the risk of their lives, never ceased to devote their services to religion and to the strenuous maintenance of its cause. Of all this, the history of your Community furnishes abundant evidence.

But after the lapse of a century the hatred of Catholics abated'; unjust laws were repealed; and at once the grain of mustard seed, planted and watered by the charity of these early Dominican Sisters, soon grew into a great tree. In all this the hand of God was manifest, and We Ourselves see the birds of the air, that is the young children of both sexes, find shelter under its branches, and there grow in virtue and knowledge under your fostering care.

The foundation in Cabra became in time the fruitful mother of many houses in America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. With a greater liberty of action, and with a wider scope for their zeal, the Daughters of St. Dominic multiplied their works with a success which makes them a blessing to the Church and to the State.

We dwell on these matters chiefly to take occasion to exhort you to the practice of those virtues of which your predecessors have given you so glorious an example, and, above all, to the practice of burning charity. But it is almost superfluous to exhort you-you whose constant aim it is to practise every virtue.

In fine, knowing as We do, your deep devotion to this Our Apostolic See, We ask that, while you express fervent thanksgiving to God in your Celebration, you will be also mindful of Us in your prayers.

You know the trying times in which We live, and the many cares that press upon Us, and consequently how much We stand in need of Divine help that We may be enabled to rule with wisdom, and to guide with fortitude, the Church which must pass through so many and such great dangers.

We impart most lovingly in the Lord, to you Our beloved Daughter in Christ and to all your Sisters, the Apostolic Benediction, as a forerunner of heavenly blessings, and a pledge of Our special predilection. Given at Rome, at St. Peter's, on the first day of May, 1919, in the fifth year of Our Pontificate. BENEDICT PP. XV.

DISPUTE REGARDING THE CUSTODY AND USE OF A CONFIRMATION BOOK SETTLED BY THE CONGREGATION OF

THE COUNCIL

(February 8, 1919)

[This Decree was published in July, 1919]

SACRA CONGREGATIO CONCILII

MELPHICTEN.

LIBRI CONFIRMATORUM.

Die 8 februarii 1919

FACTI SPECIES.-In dioecesi Melphicten., quae fere unice ipsa civitate constat, iam a pluribus saeculis unicus habetur pro tota dioecesi Liber Confirmatorum, quem conficit et custodit Canonicus Sacrista Cathedralis, cui, consequenter, privativum ius est ex praefato libro extrahendi fides seu attestationes receptae Confirmationis quando requiruntur, speciatim ad matrimonia ineunda et percipiendi propterea a non pauperibus modicam taxam iuxta legem dioecesanam.-Non multis vero abhinc mensibus, appropinquante iam die quo Codex iuris canonici vim legis ubique assequuturus erat, Vicarius Capitularis praefatae dioecesis sede vacante, ad rectam observantiam can. 470 et 798 circa libros parochiales parandam, dato decreto die 14 maii 1918 constituit inter alia che il Can. Sacrista, dopo aver iscritto in conformità del can. 798 nel libro dei Cresimati l'avvenuta cresima, dovrà non oltre tre giorni, notificarlo al Parroco presso del quale trovasi il libro dei Battezzati, perche ne eseguisca la relativa annotazione (cfr. can. 470, § 2) col richiederne la risposta, cosi come praticasi per questa diocesi per la notificazione dei matrimoni.' Adversus huiusmodi decretum statim Canonicus Sacrista hodiernus recursum interposuit apud H. S. C. conquerens inde privilegium suo stallo iam a duobus saeculis acquisitum iniuste laesum fuisse, contra mentem can. 4 Cod., quin immo sibi impositum fuisse grave detrimentum non modo propter totalem futuram emolumentorum cessationem, cessante nimirum necessitate ex unico libro extrahendi attestationes, sed etiam propter sumptus non modicos ad observantiam decreti faciendos; quibus attentis, in damnata hypothesi qua sustinendum esse decretum declararetur, intentionem suam pandebat renuntiandi penitus confectioni et custodiae Libri Confirmationis favore Capituli. Vicissim Capitulum, de more interpellatum, deliberatione diei 13 iulii subsequentis hanc futuram forsan renunciationem in sui favorem prorsus exclusit, et censuit, si res eo deventura esset, satius fore abrogato privilegio ad ius commune redire, prout can. 470, § 1 continetur, nempe librum Confirmatorum, non secus ac baptizatorum, matrimoniorum, defunctorum libros, a singulis parochis in posterum habendum esse. Huic deliberationi minime acquiescente Canonico Sacrista, et acrius instante ut decretum Vicarii Capitularis omnino tolleretur, causa delata est ad Eños Patres, sub dubio: An et quomodo decretum Vicarii Capitularis diei 14 maii 1918 sustineatur in casu.

SYNOPSIS DISCEPTATIONIS.-Canonicus Sacrista Cathedralis recurrens

totus est in contendendo se exturbatum fuisse praefato decreto (et quidem sede vacante, contra vetitum can. 436) a pacifica possessione sui iuris seu privilegii, quod tribus consistit : (a) iure assistendi Episcopo publice conferenti sacramentum Confirmationes; (b) tenendi privative librum Confirmatorum pro tota dioecesi; (c) extrahendi ex eodem libro particulas seu attestationes, cum perceptione emolumentorum. Quae omnia plane constare ex exhibitis documentis sane concedendum est. Verum, circa primum, quod probatur vel ex titulo libri Confirmatorum deinceps ab a. 1716 inscripto: Liber Confirmationis sub praesule 'Illmo . . . cum adsistente a R. D. . . . Sacrista,' nulla fit quaestio, nec mens quidem coniicitur fuisse Vicarii Capitularis, in hac re, suo decreto quidquam derogare, quamquam non satis appareat hoc ius assistendi esse in Canonico Sacrista privativum seu exclusivum.-Quo vero ad alterum, seu praecipuum ius, revera a lege iam data deflectens, tenend unicum librum Confirmatorum pro tota dioecesi, loco parochorum, illud tueri Canonicus recurrens debet, non adversus Vicarium Capitularem, qui suo decreto explicite illud praesupposuit et praeservavit, hanc antiquam praxim dioecesanam componere studens cum novorum canonuni praescriptus, sed potius adversus Capitulum, qui sua deliberatione censuit, in casu satius esse inducere ius commune can. 470, § 1. Nec denegandum, si res sub aspectu mere theoretico consideretur videri in casu ea esse praxis Melphictensis, quae a Codice noviter dato non revocetur, ideoque sustineri adhuc possit. Si enim consideretur quatenus est ius quaesitum sive Capitulo, sive Sacristae Capituli nomine, iure servatur vi can. 4; si quatenus est consuetudo a duobus et ultra saeculis vigens, succurrit can. 5; si tandem, quod rectius videtur, habeatur tamquam lex et statutum dioecesanum (nam et in Constit. Synodal. episcopi Loffredi, a. 1673, cap. XXII, legitur: 'In nostra cathedrali Ecclesia, in qua 'Sacramentum hoc ministrari solet, Confirmatorum liber conficiatur '), potest quidem prima fronte abrogata censeri vi can. 6, 1° quatenus, opposita praescriptis huius Codicis,' in casu, canoni 470: verum sedulo attendendum est praefatum praxim opponi tantummodo cuidam praescripto secundario can. 470, non vero ipsi legi: praecipuum enim obiectum legis, in casu, est ut habeatur liber Confirmatorum, secundarium ut habeatur a parochis: porro Melphicti habetur liber Confirmatorum, licet unus pro tota dioecesi, in cathedrali. At vero oppositio iuri ccmmuni, quando cadit in eo quod est secundarium, servato praecipuo obiecto legis, non videtur secumferre abrogationem praxis.

Haec tamen theoretice: in praxi autem duo consideranda sunt. Alterum est, quod dum Capitulum censet et optat in rem inducendum esse ius commune, non videtur Canonico Sacristae ius inesse obsistendi, quum non agatur de re propria, sed capitulari, immo nec, pelsonam habeat Canonicus, qua, sine Capitulo, querelam movere possit. Enimvero ex actis docemur (prout iam ex. gr. ex citatis verbis Constit. Synod. 1678) curam et onus conficiendi librum commissum fuisse Capitulo, seu Cathedrali Ecclesiae,' quod ad rem diligentiam seu ministerium Canonici Sacristi postea elegit: nonnisi quippe ab a.