CONSISTORY, at Rome, denotes the college of cardinals, or the pope's senate and council, before whom judiciary causes are pleaded. Du Cange derives the word from consistorium; i. e. locus ubi consistitur; used chiefly for a vestibule, gallery, or anti-chamber, where the courtiers wait for admission: and called à consiliente multitudine.
The consistory is the first court, or tribunal of Rome: it never meets but when the pope pleases to convocate it: the pope presides in it in person, mounted on a magnificent throne, and habited in his pontificalia; on the right are the cardinal-bishops and priests, and on the left the cardinal deacons. The place where it is held, is a large hall in the apostolical palace, where princes and ambassadors of kings are received. The other prelates, prothonotaries, auditors of the rota, and other officers, are seated on the steps of the throne: the courtiers sit on the ground; ambassadors on the right, and consiliorial and fiscal advocates behind the cardinals.
Besides the public consistory, there is also a private one, held in a retired chamber, called the chamber of popery; the pope's throne here being only raised two steps high. Nobody is here admitted but the cardinals, whose opinions are collected, and called sentences. Here are first proposed and passed all bulls for bishoprics, abbey, &c. Hence bishoprics and abbey are said to be consiliorial benefices; in regard they must be proposed in the consistory, the annates be paid to the pope, and his bulls taken. Anciently they were elective; but by the concordat, which abolishes elections, they are appointed to be collated by the pope alone, on the nomination of the prince.
CONSISTORY was also the name of a court under Constantine, where he sat in person, and heard causes: the members of this court were called comites.
CONSISTORY is also used among the reformed, for a council or assembly of ministers and elders, to regulate their affairs, discipline, &c.