Ca?,e. X�.] olt?zas. 451 session declares: "Whoever shall affirm, that there are not in the Catholic Church, besides the priesthood, other orders, both greater and lesser, by which, as by degrees, the priesthood may be ascended; let him be accursed." From the foregoing we learn that the number mentioned by the council is seven. The Catechism makes this num- ber, viz., "Porter, reader, exorcist, acolyte, sub-deacon, deacon, and priest," p. 288. - Neither the council nor the Catechism formally num- ber the episcopato among the sevcn orders, as this according to them seems to be included in the priesthood. The council very' cautiously avoids saying how many orders there are; evidently lest it might come in contact with the canonisle, who maintain there are eight or nine; or with the Greeks, who make only four. '['hough the council decided the number of sacraments,' it leaves the number of orders undetermined. By this means, those who entes- rained different sentiments ou this subject were left in possession of their respective opinions. Many distinguished authors, as Pope Cornelius,?' Gregory the Great, lsidorus Hispalensis, Alcuin, and others, add the episcopate to the num- ber seven, and thus make out that there are eight orders. Ignatius the Martyr, Jerome, and many others, add the psalmists or singers to the number of ecclesiastical orders. The canoeists, or the interpreters of the canon law, add the tonsure and episcopate, and thus make nine orders. The Greeks allowed only four orders, viz., presbyterate, deaconship, sub deaconship, and reader. 2. Whether the opiscopate is a distinct order and to be added to the number seven, or the number of orders acknowledged by the Council of Trent and the authors of the Roman Catechism, is much disputed among theologians. Romanists themselves make mention of three se- parate opinions on this topic, and each opinion has its assertera among the divines and clergy. The .first is the opinion of those who believe that the' epi.scopate is not a distinct order from the presbyterate, but a mere extension of the priesthood, so that one grade differs only from the other in power or jurisdiction, but each belongs to the same order. This is the opinio** of those who believe there are only seven orders. To this class be- long the master of the sentences, Bonaventure, Thomas Aquinas, Pope Cornelius, Gregory the Great, Alcuin, &c. The Council of Trent is with this class of divines, as we may gather from the second canon of the twenty-third session, which makes the priesthood the principal order, and the episcopate only a branch of it. The Catechism too says respecting orders, that its highest degree is the priesthood, p. 283. The second is the opinion of those who make the episcopate to be a distinct order from the presbyterate, and these, roesfly, with the doctors of the canon law, make eight orders of clergy', by adding the episco- pate to the number. Lieberman, one of these, says: ".Considering the orders separately', we properly date their beginning in the episcopate; for this order embraces all the others, and as it is first in its origin, so it is the fountain and head of all."$ The 8Teeter part of the bishops Seas. 7, can. 2. 4' Dens, de Ordine, No. 2. Ordineo aingulo? sepsratim decurt?too, ab epifmtpsta ramtit6 initiota duelures; 1
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