CURIO.
The Priest or Curate of each Curiae or Parish. Varro derives the Etymology of Curio from Curia, because the Curio's were established to be spiritual heads in the Curiae. Curioni dicti a Curiis, qui fiunt ut in his sacra fa∣ciant; others take it from cura care, because they offer sacrifices for their Parishioners.
The Popish Curates have a great Analogy to these ancient Curio's, as to their office, (laying Paganism aside) for the name agreed with them, either taken from Curia or Cura: their office is alike; for the Curates are sub∣ordinate to a first Curate, viz. the Bishop, and receive orders from him concerning what must be done in their Parochial Churches, what rites and ceremonies ought to be observed, either in the administring of the Sacraments, or the rest of Divine service, and the list of the Feasts that are to be kept; likewise the Curions instituted by Romulus, were subjects to the Curio called Curio Maximus, who gave them directions about the Feasts of each month, the ceremonies of the sacrifices, and several other things contained in the ri∣tual or formularies they had made concern∣ing them. Therefore Festus defines this great Curio, a man by whom all is done in the Cu∣riae, and is an Overseer over all the Curio's: Maximus Curio, cujus auctoritate Curiae omnesque Curiones reguntur.
After the Curio's Death, the Curiae chose themselves their Curio, as it was granted them by Romulus, and then presented him to the great Curio to be confirmed by him. The Christian Churches formerly chose their Cu∣rates after the same manner.