Porro eadem Sacra Congregatio Decessoribus Nostris operam navans, inter alia sui studii argumenta erga eam regionem, hoc etiam exhibuit, ut nempe admissis in Urbanianum Collegium eius regionis alumnis, ex iis novos in dies Evangelii praecones in urbe totius christiani Orbis principe, in ipsis Pontificum oculis ad pietatem et scientiam pro Americae borealis gentibus {diligenti institutione informandos, opportune curaret. Illustris autem Americae gentis electa pars tot tantisque Summorum Pontificum dilectionis testimoniis ita respondit, ut quam de se expectationem, excitaverat, eidem luculenter re ipsa satisfecerit. Egregia enim semper argumenta praebuit sui studii erga catholicam religionem, ac filialis obedientiae devotaeque voluntatis erga Apostolicam Sedem. Eique firmis obsequii vinculis sese devinctam ostendit. Qua in re praecipuam commendationem sacri eius regionis Pastores sibi vindicant, quorum concordibus et assiduis laboribus brevi eo res adductae fuere, ut amplissima Episcopali Hierarchia per memoratos status constituta, religiosis Ordinibus invectis, Catholica institutione diffusa, veluti novum Ecclesiae spirituale regnum in iis regionibus effloruerit.

Haec magna cum consolatione intuentes Romani Pontifices sui muneris, paternaeque suae erga illustrem illam partem dominici gregis benevolentiae esse duxerunt, ut maiora etiam in eius utilitatem peragenda curarent. Quapropter inclitus Decessor Noster fel. rec. Pius IX. nihil ad religionis incrementum utilius, ad Pontificiam munificentiam opportunius existimavit quam providere, ut quemadmodum plures ex aliis exteris nationibus, sic foederati Americae Septentrionalis status suam in Urbe domum altricem haberent in qua delecti iuvenes sacris studiis sacraque disciplina instituendi, ad exercendum deinde in patria sua uberi cum fructu sacerdotale ministerium exciperentur.-Quod feliciter mente conceperat illustris Decessor Noster, operam etiam dedit, ut omni sublata mora ad exitum perduceretur. Itaque Eius iussu a sacro Consilio Christiano nomini propagando coempta in urbe domus, quae Sacrarum Virginum a Visitatione Deiparae antea fuerat, Collegio alumnorum Septentrionalis Americae addicta, perpetuumque in usum attributa est; simulque anno 1858 die solemni Sanctae Dei Matris sideribus receptae ab eodem Sacro Consilio litterae datae, quibus eiusdem Collegii erectio pro foederatis Americae Septentrionalis statibus decernebatur. Collegium quidem ipsum felicibus auspiciis die 8 Decembris anno insequenti dedicatum est: sed tamen usque ad hanc diem illud supererat, ut documentum Apostolicum ederetur, quo ipsum ex institutoque huius Apostolicae Sedis canonicae suae erectionis vim et dignitatem acciperet. Eins rei causa Venerabiles Fratres Americae Borealis Episcopi, qui superiore anno exeunte de gravibus religionis rebus acturi in hanc almam Urbem convenerunt, per Ven. Fratrem Archiepiscopum Baltimorensem Nobis fervidas preces obtulere, ut quod nondum a

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Collegio regionis suae constituo peractum fuerat, auctoritate curaque Nostra fastigium imponentes operi, perficeremus. Nos itaque haud cunctandum rati, eorumdemque Venerabilium Fratrum communibus votis obsecundare, clerumque et fideles Americanae regionis novo hoc amoris testimonio prosequi cupientes, decretum a memorato Sacro Consilia editum super constitutione Collegii Clericorum pro foederatis Americae Septentrionalis statibus, cum omnibus et singulis in illo contentis, Auctoritate Apostolica tenore praesentium confirmamus eique inviolabilis Apostolicae firmitatis robur adiicimus, ac praeterea ad maiorem Dei Gloriam, ad incrementum catholicae religionis, ad decus utilitatemque magnae Reipublice foederatorum Americae Septentrionalis statuum, eadem auctoritate tenore praesentium idem Collegium in hac alma Urbe, iuxta canonicas normas erigimus et constituimus, ac nomine et titulo Pontificio decoramus, eidemque omnia iura, praerogativas, priviligia huiusmodi Collegiorum propria attribuimus et elargimur, ad leges quae infra sequuntur.

I. Cardinalis Sacri Consilii Christiano nomini propagando Praefectus pro tempore existens, idem perpetuo Patronus Collegii esto idemque ubi opportunum sibi visum fuerit, adiutorem sibi in eo munere gerendo diligendi et constituendi iure fruatur.

II. Administratio universa Collegii ab Archiepiscopis et Episcopis foederatorum Statuum Americae Septentrionalis, vel a Praesulibus ab ipsis ad id muneris legitime deputatis, geratur.

III. Archiepiscopi et Episcopi, quibus, ut supra Collegii administratio concredita est, iidem, cum moderator Alumnis Collegii regendis renunciandus fuerit, tres sacerdotes, qui ad hoc munus obeundum idonei visi fuerint, Sacro Consilio Fidei propagandae proponant, uti ex iis Summus Pontifex audito Sacrae Congregationis consilio eligat, quem Collegii regimini Rectoris nomine et potestate praeficiat.

IV. Rector in omuibus quae ad Collegii regimen pertinent Emi Patroni ac Episcoporum Collegii Administratorum auctoritati obsequatur, eisque accuratam rei familiaris rationem sexto quolibet anni mense rec dat.

V. Rector idem, ut munere suo expeditius et utilius perfungi queat, tum in iis quae oeconomicam Collegii curationem, tum in iis quae Alumnorum disciplinam spectant, opportunis adiutoribus utatur.-Propterea ipsius erit, Emo Patrono approbante, idoneum sacerdotem vicarium suae potestatis adsciscere, nec non curatorem rei familiaris Collegii Emo Patrono et Episcopis administratoribus proponere, ac de ipsorum consensu constituere, qui in munere exercendo a Rectoris auctoritate nutuque pendere debebit.

VI. Rector omnibus praesit, non alumnis modo, sed et singulis maioribus ac minoribus Collegii administris.

VII. Nec inter alumnos admittatur quispiam, nisi aut ratione originis aut ratione domicilii vel quasi domicilii foederatorum Americae Statuum civis habeatur, et constitutis conditionibus satisfa

ciat, ac ingenii morumque laude probatus firmam spem praebeat, sese in ecclesiasticis ministeriis esse perpetuo inserviturum.

VIII. In alumnis novis adsciscendis Collegii Rector cum Episcopis agat ad quorum Diocesim ipsi pertinent; tum de singulis qui excipiendi erunt ad Emum. Patronum referat, alumnosque item antequam Collegium ingrediantur, aut in patriam redeant, coram Emo. Patrono sistat.

IX. Alumni antequam ad sacros Ordines promoveantur iuramentum de more emittant, ut in Collegiis Pontificiis fieri solet.

X. Collegii Urbani fidei Propogandae scholas Americani Alumni studiorum causa celebrent, ibique ad gradus Academicos assequendos doctrinae experimenta edant. Quo vero in studiis suis proficere valeant uberius, sacerdos rerum theologicarum et philosophicarum scientia praestans apud ipsos commoretur, qui iisdem in susceptis praelectionibus explanandis et illustrandis adiumento erit.

XI. Quod autem ad spiritualem Alumnorum curam attinet, Rectoris munus erit sacerdotem ad confessiones excipiendas ab Emo. Urbis Vicario approbatum, in pietatis magistrum et ordinarium Confessarium qui in Collegii aedibus degat, de Emi Patroni assensu deligere; isque ita delectus Alumaorum animis ad virtutem et scientiam Sanctorum studiose ac prudenter provehendis operam navet.

XII. In Alumnorum disciplina regulae seu leges Collegii Urbani Fidei Propagandae opportune temperatae, ac peculiaribus Collegii rationibus accommodatae, accurate serventur,

Volumus denique ut hae Literae Nostrae firmae rataeque, uti sunt, ita in posterum permaneant; irritum autem et inane futurum decernimus si quid super his a quoquam contigerit attentari: contrariis quibuscumque non obstantibus.

Datum Romae sub annulo Piscatoris anno millesimo octingentesimo octuagesimo quarto die xx7 Octobris, Pontificatus Nostri Anno Septimo. F. CARD. CHISIUS.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

D.ereta Authentica S. Cong. Indulgentiis, Sacrisque Reliquiis Praepositue, ab Anno 1668 ad Annum 1882. Edita jussu et auctoritate SS. D. N. Leonis PP. XIII. Ratisbonae, Neo Eboraci et Cincinnatii: typis Friderici Pustet, 1883.

Prefixed to this edition of the Decrees of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences and Relics, is a decree of the Congregation itself, very clearly setting forth the grounds which justify the notable inscription on the title page-"Jussu et auctoritate SS. D. N. Leonis PP. XIII., edita." The numerous decisions issued in recent years by this important Congregation

had not as yet been published in authoritative form: it was deemed of importance that the want should be supplied: as the work was to be taken in hand at all, it was considered that the new collection of Decrees, thus to be issued, should be a complete one: and that this end should be attained, "quo autem hujusmodi collectio omnibus numeris absoluta evaderet," certain steps were taken, which are then minutely specified. By the express personal command of the Sovereign Pontiff himself, the numerous Decrees to be inserted in the collection were transcribed from the original documents preserved in the official archives. The execution of the work was entrusted to no less a personage than the Secretary of the Sacred Congregation. Finally, the collection of Decrees, thus authoritatively compiled, was specially approved by the Holy Father, who furthermore directed that a Decree embodying his approval should be drawn up, and prefixed to the edition-" auctoritate sua apostolica approbavit, et uti authenticam ab omnibus retinendam esse praecepit, deque his decretum exarari, atque huic editioni Ratisbonensi cusae typis Friderici Pustet praefigi jussit."

For the first time, then, since the institution of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences by Pope Clement the Ninth, more than two hundred years ago, a collection of its Decrees, open to no question on the score either of inaccuracy or of incompleteness. is now placed within the reach of all. The Decrees are arranged in chronological order, consecutively numbered throughout, from the 1st, which was issued on the 10th of April, 1668, to the 453rd, the date of which is the 26th of November, 1880. Facility of reference is secured by the insertion of three valuable indices--in the first of these the Decrees are arranged in chronological order; in the second they are classified under the names of the dioceses, &c.. in answer to questions from which they were issued; the third is a minutely detailed Index rerum, in which the various points decided in the Decrees are grouped under suitable headings, these in turn being alphabetically arranged. Of the excellence with which the mechanical portion of the work of printing and publishing has been executed, the imprint of Herr Pustet on the title page is a sufficient guarantee.

As a matter of course, this edition of the Decrees of the Sacred Congregation displaces all others. W. J. W.

Catholic Christianity and Modern Unbelief. By the Right Rev. J. D. RICARDS, Bishop of Retimo, and Vic. Ap. of the Eastern Vicariate of Cape Colony. New York, BENZIGER BROTHERS. 1884.

"In an age when young men prattle about protoplasm, and when young ladies in golden saloons unconsciously talk Atheism," a book like Dr. Ricards' is a welcome and opportune contribution to Catholic literature. The idea of writing it was

us.

suggested to his Lordship by a friend of great experience and judgment, one who had seen a great deal of the world and of its ways. This friend told him "that a book which would treat in a popular way, the religious theories now so fashionable outside the Catholic Church, and contrast them with orthodox teaching would be welcome and useful to many." The Bishop's own experience led him to agree with and act upon the suggestion of his friend, and the result is the handsome and useful volume before It is not with the great apostles of scientific infidelity, like Darwin, Huxley, and Spencer, that Dr. Ricards is engaged, though his book contains a great deal that tells effectually against them. His warfare is rather with the small fry of modern unbelief, with men who do not, and perhaps cannot, think or reason deeply on the awful subjects which they discuss so glibly, so profanely-men who have picked up at second or third hand scattered fragments from the workshops of the great masters of spiritual ruin. Men of this class are easily met with, and those who travel much outside our own country are certain to meet many of them. They are the legitimate offspring of Protestantism; but the system which' nursed them has lost its hold upon them, and cannot now complain if they follow out to its last logical consequence, the lesson taught them of thinking for themselves. Possessed of that dangerous commodity, "a little learning" (generally very little indeed the presumption of such men is always in the inverse ratio of their knowledge, and much of the spiritual ruin of our time is directly traceable to their evil influence. A book which deals effectually. and in a popular way, with the theories which such men are propagating, cannot fail to be welcome and useful, and we believe that Dr. Ricards' book does so deal with them.

The great merit of the volume before us is that in stating Catholic doctrine, the author is always careful to distinguish the genuine article from that caricature of it which prejudice has painted and preserved. Experience has taught him, es it teaches every intelligent Catholic, that most of the objections urged against. our doctrines are in reality grounded upon ignorance of these doctrines, and are directed against tenets which we repudiate; and he believes that when Catholic teaching is plainly stated, all this class of objects will vanish. Starting from the great central mystery of the Incarnation, Dr. Ricards develops the Catholic idea of the Church, its authority, its functions; he discusses briefly but clearly and correctly the Sacramental principle, Grace, Predestination, Free-will, Justification, and Exclusive Salvation; and he is always careful to expose and to remove from these various doctrines the misunderstandings and misrepresentations to which they are generally subjected by non-Catholics.

In dealing with the objections of Modern Unbelief," Dr. Ricards pledges himself to put them "plainly and forcibly," much more forcibly than they have been put to him, and Le has loyally

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