the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Dictionaries
Papal Congregation
1910 New Catholic Dictionary
A department of the Roman Curia, consisting of a number of cardinals, and permanently established to handle a certain class of administrative business. One of the cardinals presides over it as prefect, or as secretary if the pope is the prefect. To it are attached the required officials and a body of consultors. Its function is to see that laws are observed, to publish instructions to this end, to apply the law in particular cases, and to grant dispensations within its competency. The congregations lack legislative and, except the Holy Office, judicial power. As first organized by Sixtus V, January 22, 1588, there were 15 congregations; but the number has varied according to the needs of the times. Today there are 11, excluding the so-called Congregation of the Fabric of Saint Peter's. These are the
- Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs
- Congregation for the Affairs of Religious
- Congregation for the Oriental Church
- Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith
- Congregation of Sacred Rites
- Congregation of Seminaries and Universities
- Congregation of the Ceremonies
- Congregation of the Consistory
- Congregation of the Council
- Congregation of the Discipline of the Sacraments
- Congregation of the Holy Office
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Entry for 'Papal Congregation'. 1910 New Catholic Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​ncd/​p/papal-congregation.html. 1910.