an assembly of several ecclesiastics, united so as to constitute a body.

The term is principally used for assemblies of cardinals appointed by the pope, and distributed into several chambers, for the discharge of certain functions and jurisdictions, after the manner of our offices and courts. The first is the congregation of the holy office, or the inquisition; the second, that of jurisdiction over bishops and regulars; the third, that of councils; this has power to interpret the council of Trent; the fourth, that of customs, ceremonies, precedencies, canonizations, called the congregation of rites; the fifth, that of St Peter's fabric, which takes cognizance of all causes relating to piety and charity, part whereof is due to the church of St Peter; the sixth, that of waters, rivers, roads; the seventh, of fountains and streets; the eighth, that of the index, which examines the books to be printed or corrected; the ninth, that of the council of state, for the management of the territories belonging to the pope and church (see CAMERLINGO); the tenth, de bono regimine; of which two last the cardinal nephew is chief; the eleventh, that of money; the twelfth, that of bishops, wherein those who are to be promoted to bishoprics in Italy are examined; this is held before the pope; the thirteenth, that of consistorial matters; the chief whereof is the cardinal dean; the fourteenth, a congregation for propagating the faith (see COLLEGE); and the fifteenth, that of ecclesiastical immunity, for settling suits against churchmen. There is also a congrega- CONGREGATION is also used for a company or society of religious cantoned out of this or that order; and making, as it were, an inferior order, or a subdivision of the order itself. Such are the congregations of the oratory, and those of Cluny, &c. among the Benedictines.

The word is also used for assemblies of pious persons in manner of fraternities, frequent among the Jesuits, in honour of the Virgin, &c. It is likewise applied to the audience in a church, particularly as consisting of the inhabitants of the same parish.