in Mexico, in Brazil, and other South American countries, in the United States, and Canada, and even in Oceanica. The Nocturnal Adoration is carried on in many countries by associations of men. The first confraternity for the Nocturnal Adoration called "Pia Unione di Adoratori del SS. Sagramento" was founded in Rome, in 1810. In Paris, before the passage of the Associations Law, the Nocturnal Adoration was practised in upwards of one hundred and thirty churches and chapels by more than twenty-five hundred men. The Nocturnal Adoration, at Rome, founded in 1851, and erected into an archconfraternity in 1858, practically completes the chain of associations that render perpetual, in a strict sense, the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. It would be impossible to give here an adequate notice of the enormous number of Eucharistic associations, lay and clerical, formed for the work of the Perpetual Adoration. It is noteworthy that the two associations mentioned by Bérenger (II, 104–110) unite the work of providing poor churches with ornaments, eucharistic vessels, vestments, etc., for the adoration. In addition to the communities and associations mentioned above, we shall here enumerate only the most important societies whose object has been Perpetual Adoration. A comparatively exhaustive list will be found in Corblet (op. cit., II, 444 sqq.).
(1) The Society of Picpus was founded in 1594, having as one of their objects to honour the hidden life of Christ, by the Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. (2) In 1868 the privilege of Perpetual Adoration was granted by Pope Pius IX to the Sisters of the Second Order of St. Dominic in the monastery of Quellins, near Lyons, France. This order was founded by St. Dominic himself in 1206, the constitutions being based on the Rule of St. Augustine. The privilege of Perpetual Adoration was extended to the few monasteries, such as those of Newark, New Jersey, and Hunt's Point, New York City, which were founded from Quellins, but not to the other convents of the order. (3) In 1647 the Bernardines of Port Royal were associated to the Institute of the Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and joined to their original name that of the Daughters of the Blessed Sacrament. (4) Anne of Austria founded, through Mère Mechtilde, a Benedictine, the first community of Benedictines of the Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, in 1654, an institute widely spread throughout continental Europe. The members take a solemn vow of Perpetual Adoration. During the conventual Mass one of the community kneels in the middle of the choir, having a rope around her neck, and holding a lighted torch, as a reparation to the Blessed Eucharist so frequently insulted. Their password is "Praised be the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar". It is their salutation in their letters and visits, at the beginning of their office, the first word pronounced on waking, the last said on retiring. (5) The Order of Religious of St. Norbert, founded in 1767 at Coire (Switzerland), perpetually adore the Blessed Sacrament, singing German hymns. (6) The Perpetual Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament (women), commonly known as Sacramentines, were founded at Rome, by a Franciscan sister, and were approved by Pius VII in 1807. During their nocturnal adoration the Blessed Sacrament remains in the tabernacle. (7) The Sisters of the Perpetual Adoration at Quimper were founded in 1835. In addition to the Perpetual Adoration, they train young girls to become domestics, or teach them a trade. (8) A Congregation of Religious of the Perpetual Adoration was founded in 1845 at Eisiedeln, Switzerland. The sisters wear a small ostensorium on the breast, to indicate their special function of perpetual adorers. (9) The Congregation of Ladies of the Adoration of Reparation, founded after the Revolution of 1848, have three classes of members, whose common duty is the Perpetual Adoration. (10) The Congregation of the Sisters of the Perpetual Adoration and of the Poor Churches, founded originally in Belgium, has houses all over the world. By a special decree of the Congregation of Indulgences the seat of this archconfraternity was transferred to Rome in 1879, where it absorbed the archconfraternity of the same name already existing there. Its work, however, is not strictly a Perpetual Adoration. (11) The Society of the Most Blessed Sacrament, founded in 1857 by Père Eymard, is perhaps the best known of all. The members are divided into three classes: (a) the religious contemplatives consecrated to the perpetual adoration; (b) the religious, both contemplative and active, who are engaged in the sacred ministry; (c) a Third Order, priests or laics, who follow only a part of the rule. This society maintains a Eucharistic monthly called "Le Très Saint Sacrement". It has an auxiliary society of female religious, and has houses all over the world. Its houses in Montreal, Canada, and in New York City are well known. (12) The Eucharistic League of Priests through its monthly, "Emmanuel", practically maintains the Perpetual Adoration among its priestly members. It would be impossible to enumerate the special indulgences belonging to these different associations. Bérenger ("Les Indulgences," II, 107 sqq.) gives a list of those granted to the Archconfraternity of the Perpetual Adoration, which will indicate the rich endowment made by the Holy See to these Eucharistic works.
Corblet, Histoire Dogmatique, Liturqique et Archéologique du Sacrement de l'Eucharistie, 2 vols. (Paris, 1886), contains a most complete Eucharistic bibliography, embracing books in Latin, French, English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian; Le Très Saint Sacrement; Bérenger, Les Indulgences, 2 vols. (Paris. 1905); Thurston, various prefaces and essays in The Month; Duchesne, Christian Worship, tr. (London, 1903); Wordsworth, The Ministry of Grace (London, 1901); Frankland, The Early Eucharist (London. 1902); Helyot, Les Ordres Religieux; Moroni, Dizionario.
Adoration of the Cross. See Cross.
Adoration of the Magi. See Magi.
Adorno, Francis, a celebrated Italian preacher, b. 1531; d. at Genoa, 13 January, 1586. He was a member of the family of the last Doge of Genoa, and was born three years after the name of the Adorni was suppressed, and the office of Doge abolished. This measure was taken to put an end to the strife of 165 years between that family and the Fregosi, whose name also was changed. This political revolution was effected by Andrew Doria, the famous Genoese admiral. Francis entered the Society of Jesus in Portugal, whither he had been sent to pursue his studies. He was recalled to Rome, where he taught theology, and gained at the same time the reputation of being one of the greatest orators in Italy. He was the first rector of the College of Milan, and was subsequently charged with the administration of several houses of the Order. He was the friend, adviser, and confessor of St. Charles Borromeo. Besides two volumes "De Disciplinâ Ecclesiasticâ", which he wrote at the request of St. Charles, there remain his sermons, some Latin verse, counsels to Herbert Foglieta, "De Ratione lllustrandie Ligurum Historioe", and, in the Ambrosian library, a treatise on "Usury".
Sommervooel, Bibl. de la C. de J.
Adorno, Giovanni Agostino. See St. Francis Caracciolo.
Adoro Te Devote (I adore Thee devoutly), a hymn sometimes styled Rhythmus, or Oratio. S.
