they may be made so wise as to understand
their duty, and so strong as to perform it,
desiring they may by his ministry have
these gifts conveyed to them now, and, by
their diligent improving of them, keep
them for ever.
Being thus prepared, the rite itself is
now to be administered by the ancient
ceremony of lading the bishop's hand on
the head of each person, used by the
apostles as the means of convening the
Holy Spirit (Acts viii. 17) ; whence the
whole office is called laying on of hands
(Heb. vi. 2) ; (yet the Papists omit this
apostolical ceremony, and use the anointing
with chrism, which came later into the
Church). The bishop also gives a solemn
blessing to every one, desiring God to de-
fend that person with his heavenly grace,
from forsaking his faith, or breaking God's
commandments ; that is, to take him for
his o-^-n, and seal him with his Spirit, so
that he may ever after look on him as one
of his own children, and praying that he
may daily increase in grace and grow wiser
and better, until he be fit for that heavenly
kingdom which GoD hath promised to him
in baptism; and this prayer thus ofi'ered
up by a holy man, and one of the chief
officers of Christ's Church, shall be efi"ec-
tual to the obtaining of the Spirit for all
that have duly prepared themselves, and
do sincerely make and renew this vow.
And now the bishop concludes the office,
first with the usual form, desiring God
may be with them, to assist them in these
prayers, as they also desire he may be with
his spirit who is to ofi'er them ; calling also
upon God, as the common Father of all
that are confirmed, and so in covenant
with him: to which is joined the proper
collect, beginning with a preface, which
confesseth, that this good desire and reso-
lution of these persons to keep their vow
came from God, and by him they must
have grace acceptably to perform it. And
then here are petitions for them, first, that
as the bishop's hand was over them, so the
good hand of his providence signified there-
by maybe ever over them to preserve them :
secondly, that the Holy Spirit, now im-
parted to them by this holy rite, may be
ever with them, the blessed efiect of which
is here declared to be, that this will make
CONFIRMATION OF A BISHOP.
CONGE' D' ELIRE.
239
them understand God's word, and enable
them to obey it, so that at the end of their
lives they may be certainly saved through
Jesus Christ ; to -whom, ^vith the whole
Trinity, for these means of salvation, we offer
up our praises and acknowledgments : and
to this is added a devout collect out of the
Communion Ser%-ice, that GOD, who hath
sealed these his ^owed servants with his
Spu'it, will direct, sanctify, and govern their
souls and bodies in the ways of his laws,
so that they may ever be holy, safe, and
happy. Finally, the office is concluded
with the bishop's blessing, who now in the
name of God wishes the blessing of the
Father, Sox, and Holy Ghost may be
now bestowed on you, and remain upon
you for ever. Thus our Church appoints
this necessar\' and pious office shall be
done ; and the due administration thereof
would highly conduce to make the benefits
of baptism more visible, to increase know-
ledge and piety in the younger sort, and
to secure them from being seduced by
Papists or sectaries ; it would make the
Church to flourish and be at unity, and
convey mighty blessings to all that rever-
ently and devoutly receive it : wherefore,
as the bishops are ready to do their pai't,
let all that want it be willing and very de-
sirous to come, and let parents and masters,
and especially godfathers and godmothers,
encourage them to come to it, and labour
to fit them for it, that it may be done to
God's glory and their comfort. — Dean
Comber.
COXFIRMATIOX OF A BISHOP.
To understand what is meant by the con-
finnation of a bishop, it may be proper to
state the process adopted in England be-
fore a presbyter can be consecrated to the
episcopal office, the king having issued his
conge (V elire to the dean and chapter, and
nominating, in his " letters missive," the
?erson whom he thinks fit to be chosen,
he dean and chapter are obliged, within
twenty days next after the receipt of this
licence, to make the election, which being
accepted by the party elected, is certified
both to the sovereign and to the arch-
bishop of the province. If the dean and
chapter fail to certify the election within
twenty days after the delivery of the " let-
ters missive," they incur the penalty of
praemunire ; and if they refuse to elect,
the king may nominate by lettei-s patent.
The election being certified, the king grants
his royal assent under the great seal, di-
rected to the archbishop, commanding him
to confirm and consecrate the bishop thus
elected ; and the archbishop subscribes it
^'•Jiat conjinnatio,'^ and grants a commis-
sion to his vicar-general for that purpose.
The %-icar-general issues a citation to sum-
mon opposers, which is affixed on the door
of Bow Church, and three proclamations
are made thereof; this being certified to
the vicar-general, at the time and place
appointed, the proctor for the dean and
chapter exhibit the royal assent, and the
archbishop's commission directed to the
vicar-general. After this, a long and
formal process is gone through, and after
six proclamations for opposers, if none ap-
pear, they are pronounced contumacious.
It is then decreed to proceed to sentence.
The bishop elect takes the oaths of office,
the sentence is subscribed by the vicar-
general, and the election is ratified and
decreed to be good. (See BisJwjjs, Elec-
tion of.)
Not only bishops, but deans of many
cathedrals, were confirmed by their dio-
cesans : as at St. Paul's in London, and
St. Patrick's in Dublin. See Oiujiiton
Ordo Judicium de ecclesici Cathedr. cxxvii.,
and 3Iason's Hibernia, p. 219.
COXFORMITY, DECL.\RATIOX
OF. A declaration is required of all per-
sons who are to be licensed or instituted to
an ecclesiastical charge in the Church of
England, in the following words : — " I,
A. B., do declare that I will conform to
the liturgy of the Chui'ch of England, as
it is now by law established." This declar-
ation is to be made and subscribed before
the bishop or his commissary, and the
making and subscription thereof is to be
testified under the episcopal seal of the
bishop, and under the hand of the bishop
or his commissar^". (See also Heading in.)
COXGE' D' ELIRE. This is a French
term, and signifies leave to choose : and is
the king's wiit or licence to the dean and
chapter of the diocese to choose a bishop, in
the time of vacancy of the see. Prior to the
reign of Henry L, the kings of England
used to invest bishops with the ring and
stafi", in virtue of their donative right.
Henry I. so far ceded this right as to give
a conc/e d' elire to deans and chapters for
the election of bishops. Henry VHI.
added "letters missive," nominating the
person whom he required them to elect,
under pain of praemunire; and Edward
VI. (1 Edw. VL c. 1, 2) aboHshed elec-
tions by writ of conr/e J' elire, as being
"indeed no elections," and "seeming also
derogatory and prejudicial to the king's
prerogative royal, to whom only apper-
taineth the collation and gift of all arch-
bishoprics, and bishoprics, and sufiragan
bishops, within his Highness's said realm."
The statute goes on to enact, "That no
240
CONGREGATION IN THE PAPAL COURT.
election of any archbishop or bishop shall
be made by the dean and chapter;" but
that the king by his "letters patent, at all
times when the archbishopric or bishopric
be void, shall confer the same to any person
whom the king shall think meet." This
statute was repealed by Queen Mary, and
never afterwards revived. The law now
rests upon the 25 Henry VIII. c. 20, which
statute was revived by Queen Elizabeth.
— Burn. (See Jurisdiction.) But in Ire-
land, the act of 2 Eliz. c. 4, established
the same manner of appointment by the
sovereign, without election, as the English
act of Edward, and so it has continued to
this day.
CONGREGATION. In its largest sense,
this word includes the w^hole body of Chris-
tian people, considered as assembled, not
locally, but in some act of fellowship, as
when it is said, " Let the congregation of
saints praise Him : " but the word is more
commonly used for the worshippers, being
members of the true Church assembled in
a particular place ; a sense in Avhich the
word is plainly used in the prayer for the
Chui-ch militant, where an especial distinc-
tion is made between all God's people, or
the congregation of the saints, and the parti-
cular congregation present when the prayer
is used : "To all Thy people give Thy
heavenly grace, and especially to this con-
gregation here present." The word con-
firegation follows therefore the use of the
word Church ; we use " The Church" for the
whole body of Christ's people, and " a
Church," or " this Church," for a particular
portion of them. And as a Church is the
immediate bond of union to each individual
with the Church, so is a congregation the
immediate company w^ith which the indi-
vidual joins, and the immediate sign of his
adherence to the congregation of saints.
Thus, in the Order of Confirmation, the
preface declares that hej'ore the Church
children should ratify their baptismal vow,
and they are consequently asked by the
bishop whether they do this " in the pre-
sence of God and of this congregation.^^
Congregation and Church are considered
by our translators convertible terms : e. g.
Psal. xxii. 22, " In the midst of the co7i-
gregation^' is rendered in Heb. ii. 12, "In
the midst of the Church.^'
CONGREGATION IN THE PAPAL
COURT, means a committee of cardinals
met for the despatch of some particular
business, and each congregation is denomi-
nated from the peculiar business it has to
despatch.
I. TJie Pope's Congregation^ instituted
by Sixtus V. — They are to prepare the
most difficult beneficiary matters, which
are afterwards to be debated in the con-
sistory, in the presence of the pope. This
congregation is composed of several car-
dinals, whose number is not fixed. The
cardinal-deacon, or, in his absence, some
other cardinal chosen by the pope pro tern-
po7-e, presides in this assembly. The affairs
treated in it are, the erecting of new sees
and cathedral churches ; re-unions, sup-
pressions, and resignations of bishoprics,
coadjutorships, alienations of church reve-
nues ; and, lastly, the taxes and annates of
all the benefices to which the pope collates.
II. The Congregation of the Holy Office.,
or Inquisition. This congregation was in-
stituted by Pope Paul III., at the desire
of Cardinal Caraffa, who, being afterwards
raised to the pontificate under the name of
Paul IV., enlarged the privileges thereof,
to which Sixtus V. added statutes, by w'hich
means this tribunal became so powerful
and formidable, that the Italians at that
time used to say, " II sommo pontifice Sisto
71071 la jierdonarehh' a Christo," i. e. " Pope
Sixtus would not pardon Christ himself."
This congregation generally consists of
twelve cardinals, and sometimes many
more, as also of a considerable number of
prelates and divines of difierent orders,
both secular and regular, who are called
Co7isulters and Quatijicators of the Holy
Office. This congregation takes cognizance
of heresies, and all novel opinions ; as also
of apostasy, magic, witchcraft, the abuse of
the sacraments, and the spreading of per-
nicious books. For this purpose, an assem-
bly is held every Wednesday at the general
of the Jacobins, and every Thursday be-
fore the pope, who is president thereof.
The palace of the Holy Office serves
likewise by way of prison for such as are
accused or suspected of the above-men-
tioned crimes ; who, in case they are found
guilty, are delivered over to the secular
arm. But at present they seldom go fur-
ther than punishing them with perpetual
imprisonment. Nor is this tribunal as
rigorous and severe as in Spain, Portugal,
and other countries where the Inquisition
is established. (See Inquisition.)
III. The Cong7'egatio7i de Propaganda
Fide. — It was instituted by Gregory XV.,
and consists of eighteen cardinals, one of
the secretaries of state, an apostolical pro-
thonotary, a referendary, an assistant or
lateral judge, and a secretary of the Holy
Office. All these prelates and officers meet
in the pope's presence, as often as occasion
requires, in order to examine whatever
may be of advantage to religion, and to
consult about missions, &c.
CONGREGATION IN THE PAPAL COURT.
241
IV. The Congregation for explaining the
Council of Trent. — At the breaking up of
that council, Pius IV. deputed certain car-
dinals who had assisted in it, to put an end
to all doubts which might arise concerning
its decrees. Sixtus V. fixed this congre-
gation, and empowered it to interpret all
points both of discipline and faith. This
congregation meets once a week at the
palace of the senior cardinal, the whole
assembly being composed of persons of
that dignity. The president is chosen out
of the body by the pope, and is paid twelve
hundred crowns of gold yearly out of the
apostolic chamber. The other cardinals
have no salaries, but think it the highest
honour to assist in explaining the most
important matters relating to religion.
V. The Congregation of the Index. — The
fathers of the so-called Council of Trent,
considering the great number of pernicious
and heretical books published since the
invention of printing, deputed certain car-
dinals, and other divines, to examine into
such books. These deputies drew up a
list of them, divided into several classes ;
and the council gave orders for correcting,
in a second impression, whatever these ex-
aminers had altered or expunged. Pope
Pius V. confirmed the establishment of this
congregation, and empowered it to exa-
mine all books A^T.-itten since the Council
of Trent, and all such as shall be pub-
lished hereafter. This congregation is com-
posed of several cardinals, and a secretary
of the order of St. Dominic ; but it seldom
assembles, except on affairs of the highest
importance. (See Indexes.)
VI. Tlie Congregation of Lnmunities,
established by Pope Urban VIII., in order
to obviate the difficulties and disputes which
arose in the judgments of such suits as
were carried on against churchmen for
various matters, whether civil or criminal.
This congregation is composed of several
cardinals, nominated by his Holiness, and
takes cognizance of all ecclesiastical im-
munities and exemptions. It is held in
the palace of the senior cardinal e\ery
Tuesday.
VII. The Congregation of Bishops and
Regidars. — Pope Sixtus V., in the begin-
ning of his pontificate, united two congre-
gations, under the name above-mentioned.
It is composed of a certain number of car-
dinals at his Holiness's pleasure, and of a
prelate, who is the secretary thereof, and
has six writers under him. This congre-
gation has power to regulate all such dis-
putes as arise between bishops and the
monastic orders, and assembles every Fri-
day for that purpose.
VIII. The Congregation for the Exa-
mination of Bishojjs, instituted by Gregory
XIV., to examine into the qualifications
of all such churchmen as are nominated to
bishoprics. It is composed of eight car-
dinals, six prelates, ten divines of diflerent
orders, both secular and regular, some of
Avhom must be doctors of the canon law.
These examiners are chosen by the pope,
and assemble in his palace every Tuesday
and Friday, when any affair is to be exa-
mined. All the Italian bishops are obliged
to submit to this examination before they
are consecrated ; and for this purpose they
present themselves upon their knees be-
fore his Holiness, who is seated in an easy
chair, whilst the examiners, standing on
each hand of him, interrogate them on
such heads of divinity and the canon law
as they think proper. Such as are raised
to the cardinalate, before they are made
bishops, are dispensed from this examina-
tion ; as are all cardinal-nephews.
IX. The Congregation of the Blorals of
Bishops, instituted by Pope Innocent XI.,
to inquire into the morals of churchmen
recommended to ecclesiastical dignities. It
is composed of three cardinals, two bishops,
four prelates, and a secretary, who is the
pope's auditor. It is held alternately in
the palaces of the three cardinals, where
they examine very strictly the certificates
of the life and manners of the candidates.
However, those who have led irregular
lives, find several ways of eluding the ex-
amination of this tribunal.
X. llie Congregation for the Ileside?ice
of Bishops. — It has the jjower of enjoin-
ing, or dispensing with, the residence of
the Italian bishops, and obliging all abbots
to reside in their several communities. It
consists of three cardinals, three prelates,
and a secretary. But, having very little
business, they assemble but seldom, and
that only at the request of such bishops or
abbots as desire to be absent from their
churches, for reasons specified in their pe-
titions.
XI. 27ie Congregation for such 3Io7ias-
teries as are to be suppressed. — This con-
gregation was instituted by Pope Inno-
cent X., to inquire into the state of the
Italian monasteries, and to suppress those
whose temporalities were so far diminished,
that the remainder was not sufficient for
the maintenance of six religious. It is
composed of eight cardinals and a certain
number of monks, deputed by the pro-
vincials of orders to take care of their in-
terests. This assembly regulates the pre-
tensions of founders and benefactors, and
their heirs, and disposes of the remains of
242
CONGREGATION.
CONSANGUINITY.
the temporalities of abandoned and ruined
houses : it likewise examines the petitions
of such communities, or cities, as desire to
rebuild, and found anew, any monastery,
for which it despatches the proper instru-
ments.
XII. The Conpretjation of the Aiwstol-
ical Visitation.— It is composed of a cer-
tain number of cardinals and prelates,
whose business it is to visit, in the name
of the pope, as archbishop of Rome, the
six bishoprics, suffragans to the metropolis
of Home.
XIII. The Cotigregation of Belies.— It
is composed of six cardinals and four pre-
lates ; and their business is to superintend
the relics of ancient martjTS, that are said
to be frequently found in catacombs and
other subterraneous places in Rome, and
to distinguish their bones, shrines, and
tombs, from those of the heathens, who
were buried undistinguished in those sub-
terraneous caverns. After the congrega-
tion has pronounced sentence on the valid-
ity of any relics, they are consigned to the
vicar and the pope's sacristan, who distri-
bute them to such as desire them.
XIV. The Congreyation of Indulgences.
• — This congregation, the number of v>'hose
cardinals and prelates is not fixed, assem-
bles in the palace of the senior cardinal,
to examine into the causes and motives of
those who sue for indulgences. The re-
gistrar of this congregation sends the mi-
nutes and conclusions of petitions to the
secretary of the briefs, who despatches
them under the fisherman's seal.
XV. The Congregation of Rites. — Pope
Sixtus V. founded this congregation to
regulate the ceremonies and rites of the
new offices of saints, which are added to
the Romish calendar, when any person is
canonized. It has authority to explain the
rubrics of the mass-book and breviarv.
thereto; and its power extends to pro-
nounce sentence, from which there is no
appeal, on all disputes relating to the pre-
cedency of churches. It is composed of
eight cardinals and a secretary, who as-
semble once a month in the palace of the
senior cardinal.
XVI. The Congregation for the Building
of Churches.— ^o^c Clement VIII. founded
this congregation, to superintend the build-
ing of !St. Peter's church, adjoining to the
Vatican, and it is employed, to this day,
in repairing and beautifying it. It con-
sists of eight cardinals and four prelates,
who assemble at the palace of the senior
cardinal on the Monday or Saturday near-
est to the beginning and middle of each
month. This congregation has the pecu-
liar privilege of altering the last wills and
testaments of those who bequeath sums to
be employed in pious uses, and to apply
the money towards supporting the fabric
of St. Peter's. — Broughton.
CONGREGATION is also applied in
England to one of the assemblies of the
university of Oxford, consisting of Regents,
who transact the ordinary business of the
university.
CONGREGATIONALISTS are nearly
the same as Independents. (See Itide-
jjendents.) The chief point of difference is
that the Congregationalists hold the prin-
ciple of a communio7i of Churches.
CONGRUITY. (See Condignitt/.)
CONSANGUINITY. AUiance by
blood, as ajinitg is alliance by marriage.
Certain degrees of consanguinity are
among the impediments to marriage, both
by the law of nature and by the revealed
word of God. These degrees, as well as
those of affinity, are defined by the Church,
and are expressed in a table drawn up by
Archbishop Parker, in 1563, and set forth
by authority. This table is as follows :
when any difficulties are started in relation
A Table of Kindred and Affinity, wherein whosoever are related are forbidden
in Scripture and our laws to marry together.
A man may not marry his
1 GRANDMOTHER,
2 Grandfather's AVife,
3 Wife's Grandmother.
4 Father's Sister,
5 JMother's Sister,
6 Father's Ej-other's Wife.
7 Mother's Brother's Wife,
8 Wife's Father's Sister,
9 Wife's Mother's Sister.
10 Mother,
11 Step-Mother,
12 Wife's Mother.
A tuoman may not marry with her
1 GRANDFATHER,
2 Grandmother's Husband,
3 Husband's Grandfather.
4 Father's Brother,
5 Mother's Brother,
6 Father's Sister's Husband.
7 Mother's sister's Husband,
8 Husband's Father's Brother,
9 Husband's Mother's Brother.
10 Father,
11 Step-Father,
12 Husband's Father.
CONSECRATION.
13 Daughter,
14 Wife's Daughter,
15 Son's Wife.
16 Sister,
17 AVife's Sister,
18 Brother's Wife.
19 Son's Daughter,
20 Daughter's Daughter,
21 Son's Son's Wife.
22 Daughter's Son's Wife,
23 Wife's Son's Daughter,
24 Wife's Daughter's Daughter.
25 Brother's Daughter,
26 Sister's Daughter,
27 Brother's Son's Wife.
28 Sister's Son's Wife,
29 Wife's Brother's Daughter,
30 Wife's Sister's Daughter.
CONSECRATION. The solemn act
of dedicating anytliing or person to a Di-
vine service and use.
CONSECRATION OF A BISHOP.
By this we mean the separating of a per-
son for the holy office of a bishop, by im-
position of hands and prayer. According
to a canon of the first Nicene Council, there
must be four, or at least three, bishops
present at the consecration of a bishop.
The form used in the Church of England
may be found in the Book of Common
Prayer. And it is stated in the preface
thereto, that '* no one shall be accounted or
taken to be a bishop, or suffered to execute
the same function, unless he be called, tried,
and admitted thereunto according to that
form, or hath had formerly episcopal con-
secration.^'' The concluding portion of this
sentence recognises the validity of conse-
crations given in foreign churches by any
other form adopted by those Churches.
Thus a French, or an Italian, or a Greek
bishop, conforming to the rules of the
Church of England, requires no fresh con-
secration, but is at liberty to officiate
among us.
By the eighth canon, "Whoever shall
affirm or teach, that the form and manner
of making and consecrating bishops, priests,
and deacons, containeth anything in it that
is repugnant to the word of God ; or that
they who are made bishops, priests, or dea-
cons in that form are not lawfully made,
nor ought to be accounted, either by them-
selves or others, to be truly either bishops,
priests, or deacons, until they have some
other calling to those Divine offices ; let
him be excommunicated ipso facto, not to
be restored until he repent, and publicly
revoke such his wicked eiTors."
R 2
CONSECRATION OF A BISHOP. 243
13 Son,
14 Husband's Son,
15 Daughter's Husband.
16 Brother,
17 Husband's Brother,
18 Sister's Husband.
19 Son's Son,
20 Daughter's Son,
21 Son's Daughter's Husband.
22 Daughter's Daughter's Husband,
23 Husband's Son's Son,
24 Husband's Daughter's Son.
25 Brother's Son,
26 Sister's Son,
27 Brother's Daughter's Husband.