The Church being very desirous, in order to ex cite and promote all possible reverence and devotion to JESUS CHRIST, in the Blessed Eucharist, that the Confraternity of that Most Holy Sacrament be established in every Pa rish.*

Formula XII.

[The following is a copy of the Decree, by which his Grace the Most Rev. Dr. James Butler, late Archbishop of Cashel, instituted and established in Thurles, for that parish, and for every other parish under his jurisdiction, the Confraternity of the Most Holy Sacrament of the Most Blessed Eucharist.]

Jacobus Butler, Archiepiscopus Casseliersis, &c.

Omnibus Christi Fidelibus tam clero quam populo utriusque dioecesis Casseliensis et Îmelacensis;

* See Monacelli Titulo VI. Licentiæ Erectionis Societatis Sanctissimi Sacramenti.

lacensis; salutem et benedictionem in nomine ejus, qui sedet ad dexteram Patris.

Cum in visitatione dioecesis nostræ Casseliensis et Imelacensis invenire non potuerimus; unquam in alterutra institutam fuisse Sanctissimi Eucharistiæ Sacramenti Societatem; qua possit reddi et augeri cultus istius mysterii amoris; cumque ad talem Societatem erigendam eo magis moveamur; quod in hoe regno, tam eximio Divinitatis pignori, a tot fidei nostræ alienis, contradicatur; et adscitis quam plurimis, præsertim Parochie Thurlesiæ, piis viris et fœminis, qui sponte et alacriter sese in albo ejusdem Confraternitatis adscribi petierunt: Venerabilem Sanctissimi Eucharistiæ Sacramenti Societatem, ubique per omnes. territorii nostri partes, instituere et erigere, in Domino, qui nos confortat, statuimus.

Quapropter pro majori cultu et veneratione adorabilis istius Mysterii, Sanctissimi Eucharistiæ Sacramenti Societatem, cum omnibus privilegiis et prærogativis, necnon participationę indulgentiarum a summis Pontificibus, hujusmodi Societatibus hactenus elargitarum, non solum in Parochia nostra de Thurles, sed etiam in omnibus et singulis Parochiis nostræ jurisdictioni subjectis; præsenti decreto, et authoritate nostra ordinaria, perpetuo instituimus et erigimus.

Datum Thurlesiæ, prima die Novembris, in festo Omnium Sanctorum, anno 1778.

A Translation

A Translation of the above Decree.

James Butler, Archbishop of Cashel, &c.

To all the Faithful of Christ, both Clergy and Laity, of the Dioceses of Cashel and Emly, health and benediction, in the name of him who sitteth at the right hand of the Father:

Whereas in the visitation of our dioceses of Cashel and Emly, we have not been able to discover, that in either diocese, the Confraternity of the most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, hath ever been instituted; whereby due honour and worship may be rendered and promoted to that Mystery of Love: We are the more desirous to establish it, because in this kingdom so excellent a pledge of the divine goodness is contradicted by men, who are strangers to our faith.

And having called together very many pious men and women, particularly of the parish of Thurles; who freely and most earnestly petitioned to become members of the same Confraternity: We resolved with humble confidence in the Lord, who doth comfort us, to institute and erect, throughout every part of our districts, the venerable Society of the Most Holy Sacrament of the Blessed Eucharist.

Wherefore, to encourage and promote all possible devotion and veneration towards that most Adorable Mystery, we, by this present decree, and by our own episcopal authority,

do

do institute, erect, and establish for ever, not only in this our own parish of Thurles, but also in all, and each of the Parishes subject to our jurisdiction, the Confraternity of the Most Holy Sacrament of the Blessed Eucharist; with all the privileges and prerogatives, and participation of indulgences, hitherto granted by the sovereign Pontiffs to these Societies.

Given in Thurles, on the first day of November, the feast of All-Saints, in the year, 1778.

JAMES BUTLER,

Archbishop of Cashel.

We, the undersigned, do by these presents, approve of, confirm, and renew the above de cree of our most illustrious and most honoured predecessor, of truly pious memory, in the whole, and in every part of it.

Dated in Thurles, this 1st day of November, the feast of All-Saints, 1795.

THOMAS BRAY,

Archbishop of Cashel.

Besides the many indulgences and privileges, granted by several Popes to the Arch-Confra ternity of the Blessed Eucharist, established in

Rome

Rome many centuries ago, in the Church of the Blessed Virgin, called Above Minerva ; all which indulgences and privileges, by express declaration of said Popes, are extended to every individual society of the Most Holy Sacrament, wheresoever established.

Our most holy Father, Pope Pius VI. has granted to all the Members of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Sacrament, instituted and erected by the Most Rev. Dr. James Butler, who shall faithfully comply with the conditions required, a plenary indulgence, to be gained for ever, on the third Sunday of every month; which indulgence may be applied for the souls suffering in Purgatory; as will appear from the following copy of that Pope's brief:

Ex audientia Sanctissimi, habita per me infra scriptum Sacræ Congregationis de propaganda fide Secretarium, die 24 Januarii, 1779

Sanctissimus Dominus noster; Pius Divina providentia Papa VI. Ad enixas preces R.P. D. Archiepiscopi Casseliensis in Hibernia; omnibus et singulis Christi fidelibus adscriptis, vel in posterum adscribendis Confraternitati ab codem Archiepiscopo nuper erectæ, sub titulo Augustissimi Sanctissimæ Eucharistiæ Sacramenti, qui vere pœnitentes, confessi, ac sacra communione refecti in Dominica tertia cujuslibet mensis, infra annum per aliquod temporis spatium pias ad Deum preces effuderint pro Sanctæ fidei propagatione, plenariam indulgentiam in perpetuum lucrandam, et applicabilem quoque per modum suffragii animabus in Purgatorio