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("Advocate of the Devil" or "Devil's Advocate").
A popular title given to one of the most important officers of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, established in 1587, bySixtus V, to deal juridically with processes ofbeatification and canonization. His official title is Promoter of the Faith(Promotor Fidei). Hisduty requires him to prepare in writing all possible arguments, even at times seemingly slight, against the raising of any one to the honours of the altar. The interest andhonour of theChurch are concerned in preventing any one from receiving those honours whose death is not juridicallyproved to have been "precious in the sight ofGod" (seeBEATIFICATION and CANONIZATION). Prospero Lamertini, afterwardsPope Benedict XIV (1740-58), was the Promoter of the Faith for twenty years, and had every opportunity to study the workings of theChurch in this most important function; he was, therefore, peculiarly qualified to compose his monumental work "On the Beatification and Canonization of Saints," which contains the complete vindication of therights of theChurch in this matter, and sets forth historically its extreme care of the use of this right. No important act in the process ofbeatification orcanonization is valid unless performed in the presence of the Promoter of the Faith formally recognized. Hisduty is to protest against the omission of the forms laid down, and to insist upon the consideration of any objection. The first formal mention of such an officer is found in thecanonization ofSt. Lawrence Justinian underLeo X (1513-21).Urban VIII, in 1631, made his presencenecessary, at least by deputy, for the validity of any act connected with the process ofbeatification orcanonization.
BENEDICT XIV,De Beat. et Canon. Sanctorum, I, xviii.
APA citation.Burtsell, R.(1907).Advocatus Diaboli. InThe Catholic Encyclopedia.New York: Robert Appleton Company.http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01168b.htm
MLA citation.Burtsell, Richard."Advocatus Diaboli."The Catholic Encyclopedia.Vol. 1.New York: Robert Appleton Company,1907.<http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01168b.htm>.
Transcription.This article was transcribed for New Advent by the Cloistered Dominican Nuns of the Monastery of the Infant Jesus, Lufkin, Texas.Dedicated to all the saints.
Ecclesiastical approbation.Nihil Obstat. March 1, 1907. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor.Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.
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