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Show I CONSIDERATIONS ON CANON LAW. We have spen the necessity of appointing ap-pointing a body of consultors, whose duty it is to give advice to the Bishops on the subjects expressly mentioned by the law, and on any other matter where the Bishops wish to relieve themselves of the responsibility of acting on their own judgment. Another approximation to the general law of the Church deals with the appointment of examiners of the clergy, whether the examination is preparatory to the reception -or orders, or is subsequent to their ordination to the priesthood, and especially for . the competition for the irremovable rectorship. rector-ship. The Council of Trent was determined de-termined that proof should be given by all who sought promotion to holy orders that they had the requisite knowledge necessary for their position. Tf ihi was necessary, even where many priests are not called to exercise their ministry for the care of souls, much more is such proof needed in a missionary mis-sionary country, as ours, where every one ordained to the priesthood is liable to be at once engaged in the most intricate in-tricate problems connected with the guidance of souls, as are made known through the confessional, and in almost al-most every position to which a priest is here immediately assigned after his ordination. The greater part of the clergy in this country is at once placed where the most difficult cases are liable to be presented to their solution, oftentimes, often-times, too, 'without much, or, perhaps, i any time to give long consideration for their decision. How different from the I condition in older Catholic countries, where the clergy is so numerous as not to require the services of the greater number in the confessional, and where very many priests never have the occasion oc-casion to hear a single confession! There special examinations are made of those who are to be engaged in the hearing of confessions, and the exercise of this power is often limited for children, chil-dren, or for men, and afterward extended ex-tended for women. The time also for the exercise of this -power is at first limited to a couple of years, and then, I after a new examination, prolonged for I another couple of years, till, perhaps, it j is confirmed permanently. v j The examiners of the clergy are usually usu-ally to be appointed In the diocesan synod, when their names are submitted to the clergy, by which they are to be declared satisfactory and approved. It is recognized that, where it is practicable, practic-able, the examiners should have the degress de-gress in theology or in canon law. which bear testimony to their learning, or, at any rate,, be easily recognized as fitted by their knowledge for the position. If for any serious reason the appointment - has not taken place in the synod, the Holy See will grant the Bishop the privilege of appointing them, but after taking the advice of the consultors. Vacancies Va-cancies occurring are also filled in the same way outside the synod. Three, at least, . of the examiners must in -this country be present at the examinations which are made, for the obtaining of irremovable rectorships. The same restriction re-striction as to the number of examiners examin-ers is not enforced for the other examinations exami-nations for those who are to be admitted ad-mitted to the seminary or to the reception recep-tion of holy orders, or even of the junior clergy. For the first five years the junior clergy are expected to give proof of their continued interest in their ecclesiastical ec-clesiastical studies by appearing once a year before the Synodal Examiners to answer orally and in writing to questions ques-tions on prearranged subjects. Where this is made a basis of future promotion it cannot, fail to be a powerful power-ful incentive to continued study on the part of the younger clergy. The study of the principles of theological lore will become much improved by the comparison compar-ison with the practical applications to which they must he reduced day by day. Serious detriment accrues from rescinding from the theoretical principles, prin-ciples, through what the indolent may call their appeal to the use of common sense. Every incentive which leads to study should be given to the clergy. The Council of Trent had this in view when it made a serious examination in theological studies of many kinds the prerequisite for the employment of almost al-most all the priests here in the care of souls from the first month of their ordination it was deemed advisable to make other arrangements for the greater sart of parishes. The time, however, is not unlikely to come soon, when the full prescription of the Council Coun-cil of Trent of a preliminary examination examina-tion for the obtaining of any parish will be enforced. A Friend of Law, in New York Freeman's Journal. |