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The history of the popes, from the close of the middle ages : drawn ...

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PIOUS CONFRATERNITUS. 227<br />

obtained <strong>the</strong> privilege <strong>of</strong> venerating <strong>the</strong> Blessed Sacrament<br />

during <strong>the</strong> recitation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> breviary.^ A sacrilege committed<br />

against <strong>the</strong> Blessed Sacrament by a Protestant who<br />

had broken into a Catholic parish church at Tarvis in Carinthia,<br />

led to a special brief <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pope to <strong>the</strong> Archduke<br />

Charles, asking for <strong>the</strong> condign punishment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fender. ^<br />

On <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hand, he refused his approval to <strong>the</strong> custom<br />

existing in some districts <strong>of</strong> refusing to give <strong>the</strong> Blessed<br />

Sacrament, through a mistaken sense <strong>of</strong> reverence, to those,<br />

condemned to death. ^ In accordance with <strong>the</strong> decrees <strong>of</strong><br />

Trent,'* Pius V. sought to jH-omote <strong>the</strong> frequentation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

sacraments, especially among <strong>the</strong> clergy. Clerics in minor<br />

orders were to go to confession and communion at least once<br />

a month, and those in major orders twice a month ; priests<br />

were to say mass at least once a week, even those who had<br />

no care <strong>of</strong> souls. ^<br />

Pious bodies for <strong>the</strong> encouragement <strong>of</strong> prayer and works <strong>of</strong><br />

charity, especially those which originated <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> Dominican<br />

Order, found a strong protector in Pius V. ; such were <strong>the</strong><br />

Confraternity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Rosary," that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Name <strong>of</strong> God for <strong>the</strong><br />

healing <strong>of</strong> feuds,'^ that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Beheading <strong>of</strong> St. John <strong>the</strong> Bap-<br />

tist, which took charge <strong>of</strong> those condemned to death, ^ <strong>the</strong><br />

' Brief <strong>of</strong> January 8, 1568, Bull. Rom., VII., 647 seq.<br />

Brief ol January 21, 1568, in Goubau, 66.<br />

^ To Castagna, January 25, 1568, ibid. 68 seq. L.\derchi,<br />

1568, n. 200. For <strong>the</strong> immediate occasion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> brief, cf.<br />

Sacchini, p. III., I., I, n. 22. <strong>The</strong> brief, it is true, caused much<br />

displeasure to <strong>the</strong> King <strong>of</strong> Spain and his counsellors " per essere<br />

cosa molto nova in questi regni " (Castagna to Bonelli, March 8,<br />

1568, Corresp. dipl., II., 321). Later on Phihp II. ordered that in<br />

every prison <strong>the</strong>re should be a chapel where those who were<br />

condemned to death could receive communion. Sacchini, loc. cit<br />

* Sess. 23, de ref., c. 11, 13, 14.<br />

*To <strong>the</strong> chapter <strong>of</strong> Valence, October 14, 1569, in Goubau,<br />

234 seq.; cf. Polanco, October 21, 1566, Anal. Bolland., VII., 66.<br />

* Brief <strong>of</strong> September 17, 1569, Bull. Rom., VII., 774.<br />

' Briefs <strong>of</strong> September 20, 1569, and June 21, 1571, ibid., •jjj, 921.<br />

"Brief, without date, ibid., 768.

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