Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 17.djvu/239

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sinful. They may administer confirmation with sponsor, and also the date and place of confirma- baptism to their own people eversrwhere except in tion; he should record the fact also in the bap- Bulgaria, Albania, Cyprus, Italy, and the adjacent tismal register. If he was not present at the cere- islands, the Maronite districts of Mount Lebanon mony the minister must personally or by proxy and the Ruthenian districts in the United States, notify him as soon as possible that the sacrament Private baptism and confirmation in other Rites has been conferred. To establish the fact of con- may be given anywhere without special leave but firmation, if no one's interests are endangered, the solemn baptism requires at least the presumed testimony of one unexceptionable witness, or the leave of the ordinary if the priests wisn to act oath of the recipient, imless he was confirmed as outside of their own districts. A bishop, or priest as infant, suffices.

having a local Apostolic privilege, can licitly con- jri^oiR^^^^bM^ii' ^^■*^' O'Donnbll in lri»h Bed Rec., firm extems in his territory, unless their own ordi- ^" v**">J a»-io.

nary has expressly forbidden it; the bishop, more- Oonftatemity (cf. C. E., IV-223).— Membere of over, may confirm his own subjects outside of his confraternities may not assist as such in sacred diocese privately, without using his pastoral staff functions unless wearing their habit or insignia: or mitre; but he would require at least the reason- Women can be enrolled as members, but only for ably presumed permission of the local ordinary to the purpose of gaining the indulgence and spiritual confinn others; nitherto no one might be confirmed favors granted to the associates. Local ordinaries without the permission, of the local bishop. A are to see the confraternities of the Blessed Sacra- bishop is obliged to administer the sacrament to his ment and of Christian Doctrine are erected in subjects who lawfull<y and reasonably ask for it, every parish; on being legitimately erected they especially during the diocesan visitation, and a are thereby aggregated to the corresponding arch- nmilar duty is incumbent on a specially privi- confraternities in Rome erected by the cardinal leged priest; ordinaries must see that their subjects vicar. Religious can and should commimicate to have an opportunity at least every five years of confraternities erected by them the spiritual favors being confirmed — ^formerly every eight or ten years which are expressly mentioned as communicable in was often deemed sufficient; if an ordinary is guilty the faculties received from the Holy See; but of grave negligence in this matter now, the metro- confraternities erected by religious may not assume politan is to mform the Holy See. a habit or insignia to be worn at public processions

When a subject has attained the use of reason he or other sacred functions without special leave of should be instructed to receive confirmation; he the ordinary. No confraternity may change or must not neglect to receive it, even though it is abandon its habit or insignia without the local ordi- not a necessary means of salvation, and his parish nary's consent. • Confraternities must be present priest should see that he receives the sacrament with their insignia and their own standards at the in due time. Where several are to be confirmed usual processions unless they have been excused by all must be present at the first imposition or exten- the onlinaiy. See Associationb, Pious. Bion of hands, and none may depart until the rite Codex jw. can., 701-25.

has been completed. The sacrament may be ad- Congo, Belgian (cf. C. E., IV-228b).— The area ministered at any time, but preferably m Pentecost is estimated at 909.654 square miles, with a popula- week. Though it should be given in a church, any tion of Bantu origin officially estimated at eleven other suitable place may be selected for a reason- millions. The European population in January, able cause; moreover, as far as the bishop's right ig20, numbered 6,971. Of these 3,588 were Belgians, to admmister confirmation is concerned there are 818 English, 239 Americans, 657 Portuguese, 298 no exempt localities in his diocese. The chrism for Italians, 53 Russians, 87 Swedish, 153 French, 183 confinnmg should he consecrated by a bishop— Dutch, 76 Swiss, 308 Greeks, 22 Luxemburgers, 21 the Code neither affirms, nor denies that a priest Danish, 14 Norwegians, and 11 Spaniards, would be delegated by the pope for this function. Education .<-^o far comparatively little has been

If possible there should be a sponsor at con- done for native education. The first schools nrmation; unless the minister beheves there is a founded by the state were charity schools in which reasonable excuse, each sponsor should stand for orphans, children abandoned by their parents, afld only one or two subjects. To act validly as spon- the children freed by the dispersal of riave convoys Mr, a person (a) must be confirmed, have attained were cared for. These schools were situated at the use of reason, and intend to assume the obliga- Boma and New Antwerp and their management was tion; (b) must not belong to a heretical or schis- entrusted to Catholic priests, who prepared the matical sect or be excommumcated by condemnatory pupils for the military or civil service of the colony, or declaratory sentence, or have incurred infamy of For other natives there are professional schools at- law, or be mcapable of legal acts, or be a deposed tached to the workshops which the State poasessesi or degraded cleric; (c) must not be the father, at Boma, Leopoldville, and StanteyviUe. Th^ mother, or spouse of the subject; (d) must be are open to youths from twelve to twenty years of chosen by the subject, parents, euardians, or if age, who have the consent of their parents and there are none or if they refuse, by the minister have been recommended by their chiefs to the or parish priest; (e) naust personally or by proxy, commissioner of their district. In addition there touch the subject physically at the act of confirma- are primary schools taught by members of religious tiOTi. To act licity as sponsor, one (a) should be ordere and a school for the sons of chiefs, which other than the baptismal sponsor, unless the min- was opened at Stanleyville in 1913. Some of the KtCT decides there is a reasonable excuse, or unless mission schools are organized like state schools the confirmation takes place lawfully immediately and are under the general control of the Governor after baptism; (b) should be of the same sex as General; some have obtained additional grants of the subject, except for a just cause; (c) should land and are imder partial control; others are POWEM the qualifications required for acting licitly completely free. The first two must follow the

    • 1* ^P^"^™** sponsor. Spiritual relationship arises general program arranged by the heads of the

only between the sponsor and the subject, and is no missions, in consultation with the Governor Gen- longer an impediment to matrimony. eral. The only scientific establishments of impor-

Ihe pariah priest is to record in a special book tance are the medical laboratoiy at Leopoldville lae names of the minister, recipients, parents and and the botanic gardens of EaUJ. In 1920 the

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