ORATORIANS

The Confederation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri (CO) was founded in 1575 at Rome, Italy, by Philip neri; it was approved by the Holy See in 1612 and confederated and reapproved in 1942. The members live in common without vows and seek their own sanctification by following the evangelical counsels, community life, prayer, and the priestly and lay ministry.

General Organization. Each congregation of the Oratory, composed of priests and lay brothers, is completely autonomous. There is no central government in the Oratory, although in 1942, when the constitutions were reapproved, all Oratories were confederated into "The Institute of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri," with a procurator-general at Rome. His duty is to represent the individual congregations of the Oratory to the Holy See and to assist them when requested. He may also vindicate the rights of Oratories, revive defunct congregations, and aid those in crisis. In 1958 the Holy See provided a new office in the institute, that of visitor of the Oratory, also known as delegate of the Apostolic See. This visitor represents the Holy See to the individual congregations. There also exists in the institute the office of postulator general. Every six years delegates of the individual congregations assemble in Rome at the tomb of St. Philip to hold a congress. This is not ordinarily a legislative group; the continuance of its business is handled between congresses by a board of elected permanent deputies from the various national groups of the confederation.

It is, however, the individual congregations that constitute the confederation, and their form of life is unique in the Church. These congregations are composed of priests and brothers who freely practice the evangelical counsels. Oaths, vows, or promises that would bind one to the congregation are forbidden by the constitution. No congregation may have a second house or assume the task of ruling another congregation. The spirit of the Oratory is democratic and adapted to secular priests living in common. Besides novices there are two categories of priests: triennial members, who have only a consultative vote, and the sexennial members, who have a decisive vote. The superior of the Oratory, who is called provost, is elected triennially by the six-year members who have been admitted to active vote. This superior may be reelected every third year according to an ancient privilege and he is a major superior. He is assisted in the government of the congregation by four elected deputies. Without the consent of these deputies he may not make appointments or changes of officials. The provost and the deputies constitute the deputy congregation, which meets regularly to decide community affairs.

The general congregation is composed of all the members who have at least attained triennial status, and without the consent of this congregation no general law or regulation binding all the members may be made, nor may any business be initiated with the Holy See. The constitutions provide many checks and balances on the authority of its superiors and officials. Each congregation is commonly known by the name of the city wherein it is located. It is forbidden for two congregations to be located in the same city. The constitution admits of exceptions on this point for large modern cities. The lay brothers are supported by the congregation. The priests also are supported by the congregation but contribute to the congregation their earnings from ministries. The system of support for the members and for the congregation varies in each house in view of the circumstances of the times and the place in which a particular congregation is located. The principle is that Oratorians should, as much as possible, serve at their own expense and abstain from community funds.

Admission and Status. New congregations may come into existence either by being established from already existing Oratories, or, more commonly, by the invitation of ordinaries who wish a congregation in their diocese. A newly established Oratory must remain a diocesan congregation until all the elements required by the constitutions are fulfilled. At that time it is admitted by the Holy See to the Institute of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri as a congregation of pontifical right; only then does it become a genuine congregation of the Oratory. The autonomy of each congregation is complete, embracing apostolate, form of life, community exercises, finances, and education of its students. The constitutions and general statutes are observed by all congregations, but their nonpreceptive directives are left to further determination by particular statutes of the individual congregations and to decisions or decrees of the deputy or general congregations. There is no superior general or anyone, other than the Holy See, who may issue directives or rules for the autonomous houses.

The clerical members of each Oratory are ordained by their proper ordinary. The dimissorial letters permitting ordination are issued by the provost of the congregation. The Oratorians are incardinated into their own congregation with the reception of diaconate. In this case a priest may not depart from the congregation until he has found a bishop to receive him. The congregations of the Oratory are closely and fraternally linked to the clergy of their diocese. They are subject to the local ordinary except in those matters that are expressly excluded by force of law, i.e., in matters pertaining to their own institute and its constitutions and general statutes, internal government and discipline, economic administration, and episcopal visitation. Their close union with, and cooperation in, the program of the local ordinary flows from the nature of the congregation as a society of priests of the secular clergy. They cooperate in the bishop's labors and work for souls in their field, according to the command and program of the local ordinary. They do not enjoy the privilege of exemption from the jurisdiction of the local ordinary except in the four above-mentioned areas.

Foundations. Congregations of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri exist in the U.S. in Rock Hill, South Carolina; Monterey, California; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.; Pharr, Texas; Brooklyn, New York; Metuchen, New Jersey; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Three congregations exist in England: Birmingham, established by John Henry Cardinal newman; London, established by Frederich William faber; and Oxford. There are congregations in Italy, France, Spain, Poland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Brazil, Canada, and South Africa.

The individual congregations of the institute of the Oratory are bound to each other by a bond of fraternal charity and by common constitutions and general statutes. They give to one another needed assistance, advice, labor, and materials and even lend members or transfer them when possible and necessary, although one's vocation is always to a specific congregation. They receive one another with fraternal hospitality into their houses and exchange information among houses. Beyond this they have a strong affection and respect for the autonomy of each house.

Bibliography: l. ponnelle and l. bordet, St. Philip Neri and the Roman Society of His Times, tr. r. f. kerr (New York 1933). a. capecelatro, The Life of Saint Philip Neri, tr. t. a. pope (new ed. New York 1926). v. j. matthews, St. Philip Neri (London 1934). m. jouhandeau, St. Philip Neri, tr. g. lamb (New York 1960). p. turks, Philip Neri: The Fire of Joy, tr. d. utrecht (New York 1995).

[e. v. wahl]