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ALtho, in the Advent before the Nativity of Christ our Lord, and in that antient time of fasting in the Church of God, the Lent before his Resurrection from the Dead, Sermons are most frequent, the word of God being
then preached every day in most Convents, Collegiate and Patriarchal Churches, at which times come abroad great and learned Orators most powerful in preaching; yet for the rest of the year the Pulpits are not silent, for on every Festival there are Sermons at the Au∣gustines, at the Dominicans, Servites, Carme∣lites, Jesuites, and other Mendicants in the Morn∣ings after Mass, and in the Afternoons after Vespers: and the same is done likewise in many Colledges of Secular Priests, which occasions a very great increase of spiritual improve∣ments.
There is in Rome a congregation of pious men, termed from their praying Oratorians, whose Founder was Bishop Philip Neri, now registred in the Catalogue of Saints by Pope Gregory the fifteenth: To these Gregory the thirteenth assigned a little Church called St. Maries in Vallicella, which being pulled down was built again into a larger and statelier Fa∣brick, for the most part by the Caesii, as we shall declare anon. The Institute of this congrega∣tion is to meet every day at set hours to spend them in Prayer, both vocal and mental, where are present a very great number of Secular per∣sons. The time of Prayer being ended, there is proposed by any one of the company some short point tending to the edification of their neighbour. From thence one of the Congre∣gation takes occasion to discourse by way of Sermon for half an hour, that done another steps up, and doth the like, and after him an∣other
even to four, so that every day at divers times you may have no less than four divine discourses or Sermons, all much con∣ducing to Christian perfection. These are made in the Church. But besides these there are o∣thers twice a week, Mondaies and Fridaies, made in the Oratory, different from the former both in argument and design. For first the Litanies are said, next a Quire of Musick con∣sisting of most sweet melody of voices, and ad∣mirable harmony of musical instruments, where∣by Praises are sung to God; then follows a Sermon, whereby all that are present are in∣vited to chastise themselves, at which time the lights are removed, and the company, be∣ing onely men, begin to chastise their bare backs, some with Cords, some with other kind of Whips, in good earnest, during which time the Psalm, Miserere mei Deus, is recited with a loud voice; which being ended, sign is given of ceasing, and every one putting on his Doublet again returns to his place; the lights are brought in, and after most solemn Musick all are dismissed.
This custome of praying, chastising, preach∣ing, conferring and singing, is used in many other confraternities and sodalities of Lay-men.
It is observed at St. John Baptist in Campo Martio near St. Silvesters, on Mondaies, Wednes∣daies and Fridaies.
On Tuesdaies in the Congregation of So∣masca at St. Blases in Mount Citerius.
On Thursday at the Clarks regular of St. Paul in Antoninus's Forum.
On Saturdaies at St. Maries de Plancta. And on the same day, and on the Sundaies, at the Jesuites in the Oratory of the congregation of Noblemen, where meet not only Lay-men of the chiefest Nobility, but also the greatest Prelates of the Court, even the most eminent Cardinals of the Roman Church.
And that the ordinary sort of Citizens, who get their maintenance by their handicrafts, may not be deprived of their portion in these Spi∣ritual Reflections and Sermons; there is preach∣ing for them by the Fathers of the same Society on every Sunday and Holiday in the Roman Colledge; at what time all other Lections cease. Besides in the same Colledge there is a congregation of Scholars of the better sort that frequent that Colledge devoted to the blessed Virgins Annuntiation, these being pro∣posed as Examples to the rest.
And because, besides these Gentlemen, Mer∣chants and Tradesmen, there is a great mul∣titude of common country people that flock to Rome from all the places round about ad∣joining, upon all Holidays; therefore the Je∣suites have a fatherly care of them also, and preach to them the word of God, where they stand assembled in the publick Streets and Market places of the City, thereby working upon them to free them from their natural rudeness, and breed in them a deeper sence of piety and devotion. Wherefore in those Ser∣mons to the vulgar they use such fervour of Spirit, and such incitements to repentance,
that you shall see great companies of them im∣mediately after Sermon ended following the Preacher into some Church, and there pre∣sently to confess their sins to a Priest ready for that purpose, and with due preparation (more than usually is found in such people) to the great comfort of their Souls to come and receive the Holy Communion, which is there delivered to them in great charity: and com∣monly when they are to depart, to every one is given some little present as a token of Chri∣stian Charity.
For a Close, and as it were a Corolary to this Chapter, we will crown it with the Insti∣tute of the Sodality of the Rosary of the blessed Virgin; which to so great benefit of Souls was erected in the Church of St. Maries Supra Mi∣nervam.
The Brethren of this Sodality meet still upon the first Sunday of every month, and having recited first the prayers of the Rosary go round the Church with tapers in their hands, as the Orthodox always did, using the solemn Litanies. That done, one of the Re∣ligious of that Convent makes a learned and devout Sermon to those of the Brother-hood and the rest of the people there present, in the praise of the blessed Virgin; which ended they return to their Prayers and so depart.
This is done (only the Litany omitted) thrice in every week to the great edification, of the Brethren themselves; and of all the people. For tho Prayers may be said at home, yet sure∣ly
not so well as in the Church, where are so many Fathers; and where so great a cry, aug∣mented much by a happy conjunction, is sent up to Almighty God.
For thou obtainest not thy suit so easily (saith St. Chrysostome) when thou prayest alone, as when in com∣pany with thy Brethren; for in this is some∣thing more viz. a concord, a conspiring, an union of love and charity, and above all the intercession of the Priests; for to this end are the Priests set over the people: That the peoples supplications, which are but weak and faint, climbing about theirs which are stron∣ger may together with them be carried up into Heaven.
This holy Institute hath had many Privi∣ledges and Indulgences granted unto it by several Popes.