An excommunicated person was considered an outcast from the Church and from society. His entrance into a consecrated place profaned it. He could not be a god-parent, a witness, or a plaintiff. His contracts were invalid. Shunned by all, his uncut hair and filthy garments were intended to make him an object of horror. We read in bulls of excom munication that any one who should speak to him or give him fire or water, or grind his flour, or prepare his food, would himself incur the same penalty. Deprived of the sacraments, the excommunicated person had no pardon to expect when dying, and after death was buried in an isolated grave.
buillIgences were not held, as has often been erroneously thought, to liberate from eternal death and damnation. They were a remission of the ecclesiastical penalties and penances, which remission might indeed continue beyond the earthly life and bridge the chasm to the final goal.
personal mediation was requisite the pope sent legates, nuncios, or commissioners, in decreasing grade of power, to act for him. In important cases they were selected from the college of car dinals, which constituted in a certain measure the papal cabinet. The cardinals were charged with the election of the pope, but in other respects their functions were those of court officials rather than of a grade or order in the church ministry, although the title and rank of cardinal were sometimes bestowed on foreign prelates of distinguished merit.
in rank to the cardinals stood the bishops (pm. 53, fig. 2, 3, 8), to whom was confided the pastoral superintendence of specified districts, the dioceses. They were charged with the administration of church affairs and the supervision of the clergy within their respective dioceses, which were far from always coinciding with the political divis ions of a country. Their dignity was augmented beyond their ordinary powers when, assembled in council, they had a voice in defining the dogmas and general constitution of the Church. Certain offices of the sacred ministry, such as confirmation, were their exclusive function. The bishop ordained priests, consecrated churches, altars, and appointed pastors to vacant charges or confirmed the appointments where the right to make them was vested in others. Within their dio ceses they could proclaim holidays and regulate church services, and in cases of minor importance grant dispensations. To a limited extent they possessed the power of excommunicating and of granting indulgences.
A principal part of a bishop's duties consisted in his spiritual jurisdiction, the administration of charitable foundations, and the protection and pun ishment of the secular and, to some extent, the cloistered clergy.
Archbishops.—The dignity of the archbishops ranked higher in gen eral estimation than that of the bishops, especially as three of the former belonged to the number of imperial princes and electors. Still, the bishops were in no manner subject to the archbishops, though the latter often attempted to gain power over them. The chief privileges of the archbishops were their larger dioceses and their precedence over bishops.
Chopers.—Just as the pope had his college of cardinals, so the bishops were assisted by a body of clergy called a chapter. The bead of the chapter was the cathedral provost (or dean), and the other members, generally twelve in number, were called prebendaries or canons. The office of the chapter was to elect the bishop and to advise and assist him in his administration. Originally it was the duty of the canons to per form divine service in the principal churches, but gradually they rele gated the task to vicars and confined themselves to the enjoyment of their rich incomes. There was also an official who attended to the accounts, to the judicial proceedings, and to the general maintenance of the episcopal rights.
Areh('cacons.—As the episcopal territory was often very large, and the number of clergy and churches was constantly increasing, the oversight of the whole became constantly more onerous; accordingly, the dioceses were divided into ten or twelve archdeacouries, with an archdeacon in charge of each. The archdeacons had to make prescribed visitations and were empowered to decide upon questions of minor importance. When their districts were large, archpriests were appointed under the arch deacons,' and appeals could be made from them to the latter, just as from the decision of the archdeacon to that of the bishop. The archdeaconries may be compared to the consistories of the Protestant churches, and the archpriests to the superintendents.' The Lower consisted of pastors, chaplains, deacons (pl. 53, fig. 6), etc. In wealthy parishes the pastors often imitated the canons and left their spiritual work to preachers and chaplains. Acolytes and similar officials were persons who served the altar as a preparation for the priesthood. Deacons were not in full orders, and performed only minor duties at the altar.