an assembly of several ecclesiastics united, so as to constitute one body; as an assembly of cardinals, in the constitution of the pope's court, met for the dispatch of some particular business.

These assemblies, being fifteen in number, are distributed distributed into several chambers, after the manner of our offices and courts: the first whereof is the pope's congregation, whose business it is to prepare the most difficult beneficiary matters to be afterward debated in the consistory: the second is the congregation of the holy office, or the inquisition: the third is the congregation de propaganda fide: the fourth is the congregation for explaining the council of Trent: the fifth is the congregation of the index, deputed to examine into pernicious and heretical books: the sixth is the congregation of immunities, established to obviate the difficulties that arise in the judgments of such suits as are carried on against churchmen: the seventh is the congregation of bishops and regulars: the eighth is the congregation for the examination of bishops, &c. It is also used for a company or society of religious, cantoned out of any order, so as to make a subdivision of the order itself; as the congregation of Cluny, &c., among the Benedictines. It is likewise used for assemblies of pious persons, in manner of fraternities.