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| A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
An association ofsecular priests who observe a simple rule embodying the commonduties of their state, afford mutual assistance in the functions of the ministry, and keep themselves in the spirit of their holy vocation by spiritual conferences. Its object is the sanctification of thesecular clergy in their missionary lives among the people. Its spirit is a personallove forJesus Christ. It was established in the seventeenth century by theVenerable Bartholomew Holzhauser, and was revived and reorganized inFrance about forty years ago (from 1913) by Canon Lebeurier, who in 1913 remained its president-general. One of the first acts ofPius X, 20 December, 1903, was to take the Union under his special protection, whilst increasing itsindulgences and spiritual favours. TheBrief of the Holy Father (Acta S. Sed., XXXVI, 594) recites the establishment of the Union in 1862, and its spread to a great number ofdioceses throughout theChristian world, inFrance,Belgium,Austria,Ireland,Germany,Switzerland,Italy,United States,Canada, South American,Australia, and parts ofAsia. The Holy Father proclaims the fact that he was a member of it, and had experienced its utility and excellence, and admits the advantages derived from it, eleven after his elevation to the episcopate. The brief goes on to summarize its organization. Proposing as it does to all its associates a uniform rule of life, monthly reunions and spiritual conferences, and the submission of a bulletin regularly to the superior, it strengthens union among theclergy and unites by a bond of spiritual fraternitypriests who are scattered far apart. The dangers of solitude are removed, and there is a concentrated effort on the part of all to attain the common end. Eachpriest under these conditions devotes himself to the well-being and perfection of all, and, though prevented by the cares of his ministry from enjoying the advantages of living in community, he does not feel that he is deprived of the benefits of the religiousfamily; nor are the counsels and assistance of his brothers wanting. The brief then recites the approval of the institute byLeo XIII inApostolic letters of 31 May, 1880, and again in 1887, when he gave it as a cardinal-protector the Cardinal Vicar ofRome, Monsignor Lucido Parrocchi. Then follows a recital of theindulgences and special privileges granted to thepriests who are members. These may be found in Beringer, ed. 1905, II, 450.
The means by which the ends proposed are attained are as follows:
There is an organ, "Etudes Ecclesiastiques", which is a monthly review dedicated to the interests ofparochialclergy.
APA citation.McMahon, J.(1907).The Apostolic Union of Secular Priests. InThe Catholic Encyclopedia.New York: Robert Appleton Company.http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01643a.htm
MLA citation.McMahon, Joseph."The Apostolic Union of Secular Priests."The Catholic Encyclopedia.Vol. 1.New York: Robert Appleton Company,1907.<http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01643a.htm>.
Transcription.This article was transcribed for New Advent by Donald J. Boon.
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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