VISITATION
480
VISITATION
desuetude when re-established by the Council of
Trent in these words: Patriarchs, primates, metro-
poUtans and bishops shall not fail to visit their re-
spective dioceses either personally, or if they be law-
fully impeded, by their vicar-general or visitor; if
unable on account of its extent to make the visitation
of the whole diocese annually, they shall visit at least
the greater part thereof, so that the whole shall be
completed within two years, either by themselves or
their visitors. Of the purpose of visitation the Coun-
cil says: But the principal object of all the visitations
shall be to lead men to sound and orthodox doctrine
by banishing heresies, to maintain good morals, and
to correct such as are evil; by admonition and ex-
hortation to animate the people to rehgion, peace,
and innocence, and to put in vogue whatever else
may be dictated by the prudence of the visitors for
the benefit of the faithful, as time, place and oppor-
tunity shaU permit.
The right of visitation belongs to all prelates who have ordinary jurisdiction over persons in the exter- nal forum. The pope through his delegates may in- stitute a visitation throughout the world, patriarchs, primates, metropolitans, bishops, vicars apostolic, and vicars capitular or administrators of vacant dioceses in their respective territories, religious superiors within their own jurisdiction. Prelates nullius enjoy this right in conjunction with the neighbouring bishop, whose precepts in case of disagreement will prevail. Visitation does not, however, fall within the province of a vicar-general unless he be specially commissioned by the bishop. A metropolitan is not permitted to visit the dioceses of his suffragan bishop save for reasons approved in a provincial synod and then only after the visitation of his own diocese has been C(jmpleted.
The canonical visitation of a diocese is incumbent on the bishop personally unless lawfully hindered. A bishop may visit the various parts of his diocese as often as he chooses. According to the Council of Trent he must do so every year if possible, or at least every two years. Attention is drawn to this Decree by the Sacred Congregation of the Consistory (A remotissima, 31 Dec, 1909). The Third Plenary Council of Baltimore requires a bishop to visit every part of his diocese at least once every three years, not only that he may administer the Sacrament of Con- firmation, but likewise that he may know his people. Associate visitors, men versed in ecclesiastical affairs, are recommended as useful in promoting the end in view. A secretary to do the clerical work is gen- erally in attendance. It proves a saving of time and labour if the chancellor or secretary receives in ad- vance answers in writing to the numerous questions compiled, since from the replies it may be seen what particular subjects require a personal investigation. The visitation comprises persons, places, and things. It is an examination into the conduct of persons, viz. clergy, nuns, and laity; into the condition of churches, cemeteries, seminaries, convents, hospitals, asylums, etc., with their furnishings and apinn-tcnances, into the administration of church pnijjerty, finances, rec- ords, state of religion: briefly, it is a complete in- vestigation of the s[)iritual and temporal affairs of the diocese. The visitor hears complaints, investigates crimes, sees whether jiastors and others properly discharge their duties, and inquires into the private conduct or morals of clergy and laity. Ilegul.ars in matters pertaining to the cure of souls and Divine worship are subject to episcopal visitation and cor- rection. As delegate of the Apostolic See a bishop may also visit exempt places, but may punish de- linquents therein only when the regular superior, being duly notified, fails to do so. Religious communi- ties of nuns are visited by tlie bishop either by virtue of his own right or as delegate of the Holy See.
The episcopal visitation should be u paternal in-
vestigation of diocesan matters. Formal trials and
judicial penalties consequently will not be common:
from such, should they be made use of, a suspensive
appeal may be taken. Otherwise an appeal from
decrees promulgated in visitation will beget merely a
devolutive effect. The laws made should be enforced,
and an authentic account of the entire visitation
should be preserved in the dioee-san archives as an
official record, as well as to enable the bishop in his
visit ad limina to render to the Holy See an accurate
report of conditions in his diocese. This report to
the pope is to be signed not only by the bishop, but
likewise by one of the associate visitors. A bishop
or other visitor, content with hospitality, will accept
no offering for the visitation.
The Pontifical prescribes the ceremonies to be ob- served in a formal visitation of a pai'ish. At the door of the church the bishop in cappa magna kisses the crucifix, receives holy water, and is incensed; then proceeding to the sanctuary he kneels tiU a pre- scribed prayer is sung. Ascending the altar the bishop gives his solemn episcopal blessing. A sermon follows in which the bishop refers to the purpose of the visitation. Later he imparts the indulgence that he is empowered to grant. Putting on a black cope and simple mitre, the bishop recites certain prayers for the deceased bishops of the diocese. The procession then proceeds to the cemetery if near by, otherwise to some convenient place in the church where a catafalque shall have been erected: there prayers are offered for all the faithful departed. The ceremony is terminated on retiu'ning to the sanctuary by still another prayer for the dead. White vestments being substituted for black, the bishop examines the taber- nacle and contents (blessing the people with the ciborium), altars, baptismal font, sacred oils, confes- sionals, rehcs, sacristy, records, cemetery, edifices, etc. as above. Finally the Pontifical contains other prayers to be said privately before the departure of the bishop and his assistants.
Religious superiors also visit canonicaUy institu- tions and persons subject to them, each observing the Constitution and customs of his own order. The efforts of female religious superiors in visiting their houses are directed chiefly to promoting zeal and dis- cipline; their authority is confined to correcting minor breaches of rule, since they are devoid of canonical jiuisdiction. Difficulties beyond their power to settle are reported to the bishop or other lawful superior.
Concilium Tridentinum, sess. XXIV. c. iii, De re/.; Concilium Plen. Ball. Ill, n. 14; TAnNTON. The Law of the Church (London, 1906), a. V. Viaitation.
Andrew B. Meeh.\n.
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. — I.
The Event. — Assuming that the Annunciation and the Incarnation took place about the vernal equinox, Mary left Nazareth at the end of JNIarch and went over the mountains to Hebron, south of Jerusalem, to wait upon her cousin Elizabeth, because her presence and much more the presence of the Divine Child in her womb, according to the will of God, was to be the source of very great graces to the Blessed John, Christ's Forerunner. The event is related in Luke, i, 39-57. Feeling the presence of his Divine Saviour, John, upon the arrival of Mary, leaped in the womb of his mother; he was then cleansed from original sin and filled with the grace of God. Our Lady now for the first time exercised the office which belongeil to the Mother of God made man, that He might by her mediation sanctify and glorify us. St. .loseph prob- ably acconipaniecl Mary, returned to Nazan'th, and when, after three m<intlis, he came again to Hebron to tak<' liis wife home, (he ai)i)arition of the angel, men- tioned in Matthew, i, 10 -'ITt. niiiy have taken place to end the tormenting doubts of .loseph regarding Mary's maternity. (Cf. also Maunificat.)
