ORATORY, CONGREGATION OP TITE. s The origin of this learned congregation, and its early history, have been detailed under the bead of St. Philip Ncri (q.v.). It is remarkable, however, that this extraordinary man, unlike most other founders of relig ious bodies in the Roman Catholic church, had never committed to writing any definite body of rules for the government and direction of the brethren. Even his scattered papers, from which his plans and intentions might have been collected, had been burned by his orders a short time before his death. Soon after that event, the fathers, at the instance of Baronius, compiled from the existing practices and from memory a rule for the congregation, framed so as to embody the spirit of St. Philip. This rule was approved of by Paul V. on Feb. 21, 1612. The fathers of the congregation are a body of priests living in community, but without vows, and under a constitution of a highly democratical character. They are at libefty to withdraw at any time, and to resume possession of the property which they had brought with them at entrance; and even during their association, each member manages his own financial concerns, only contrib uting a fixed sum to the common expenses of the community. There is no superior general, as in other orders. Each house is distinct and independent. In each, the superior is elected only for three years, and his position does not give him any personal pre-eminence whatever. The members take their places according to seniority, not according to official rank, and the superior is compelled to take his turn in all the duties, even down to the semi-menial office of serving in the refectory. The main occu pations of the fathers. beyond those of attending to the public service of the church, and the dudes of the pulpit and the confessional, he in the cultivation of theological and other sacred studies, of which "conferences" for the discussion, iu common, of theolog ieal questions, form a principal feature. The congregation has produced many men of
great eminence ii) sacred science, among whom have been already mimed the great church historian, cardinal Baronius, and his continuators. To these may he added the celebrated explorers of the Roman catacombs, Bosio, Severani, and Aringlii; and the no less emblem patristical scholar, Gallandi. The houses of the Oratory in Italy before the revolution were numerous, and in high repute. Few towns of any impoi lance were without a house of the Oratory. The congregation was early established in France by the celebrated Pierre (afterwards cardinal) de Berulle, in common with two Italian fathers, and from Fiance it extended to the Low Countries. One important difference, however, is noticeable between the French Oratory and the Roman original. In the former,ell the houses of the country arc subject to a single superior-general. In France, also, the Oratorians took charge of seminaries and of theological teaching. The French Oratory. as well as the Italian, reckons many illustrious members; but the fame and utility of thd French congregation were much marred by the unhappy controversy about Jansenism. In the year 1S47 this congregation was introduced into England by Dr. John Henry Newman (q.v.). Soon after his secession from Anglicanism, he established a house, the members of which were for the most part ex-Anglicans like himself, near, and finally at Birmingham; and soon afterwards, a second at London, which has since been transferred to Brompton.