Manoel de Sa

 Angel de Saavedra Remírez de Baquedano

 Saba and Sabeans

 Sabaoth

 St. Sabbas

 Sabbatarians, Sabbatarianism

 Sabbath

 Sabbatical Year

 Sabbatine Privilege

 St. Sabina

 Sabina

 Pope Sabinianus

 Louis de Sabran

 Sabrata

 Raineiro Sacchoni (Reiner)

 Sacra Jam Splendent

 Sacramentals

 Diocese of Sacramento

 Sacraments

 Brothers of the Sacred Heart

 Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

 Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

 Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Paccanarists)

 Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and of the Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar

 Sacrifice

 Sacrilege

 Sacris Solemniis

 Sacristan

 Sacristy

 Sadducees

 Thomas Vincent Faustus Sadler

 Mary Anne Madden Sadlier

 Jacopo Sadoleto

 Sagalassus

 Théodat-Gabriel Sagard

 Bernardino de Sahagún

 Sahaptin Indians

 Vicariate Apostolic of Sahara

 Johann Michael Sailer

 Claude de Sainctes

 Abbey of Saint Albans

 Diocese of Saint Albert

 Archdiocese of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh

 University of Saint Andrews

 Priory of Saint Andrews

 Ancient Diocese of Saint Asaph

 Abbey of Saint Augustine

 Saint Bartholomew's Day

 Medal of Saint Benedict

 College of Saint Bonaventure

 Archdiocese of Saint Boniface

 Diocese of Saint-Brieuc

 Diocese of Saint-Claude

 Diocese of Saint Cloud

 Jean-François Buisson de Saint-Cosme

 Abbey of Saint-Denis

 Diocese of Saint-Denis

 Diocese of Saint-Dié

 Charles Sainte-Claire Deville

 Henri-Etienne Sainte-Claire Deville

 Abbey of Sainte-Geneviève

 Diocese of Saint-Flour

 Saint Francis Mission

 Diocese of Saint Gall

 Orders of St. George

 Diocese of Saint George's

 Diocese of Saint Hyacinthe

 College of Saint Isidore

 Order of Saint James of Compostela

 Diocese of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne

 Ambrose Saint-John

 Diocese of Saint John

 Archdiocese of Saint John's

 Diocese of Saint Joseph

 St. Louis (Missouri)

 Monastery of Saint Lucius

 University of Saint Mark

 College of Saint Omer

 Abbey of Saint-Ouen

 Archdiocese of Saint Paul

 St. Paul-without-the-Walls

 Basilica of St. Peter

 Tomb of St. Peter

 Saint Petersburg

 Prefecture Apostolic of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon

 Louis de Rouvroy, Duc de Saint-Simon

 Saint-Simon and Saint-Simonism

 Society of Saint-Sulpice

 Abbey of Saints Vincent and Anastasius

 Order of Saint Sylvester

 Diocese of Saint Thomas

 University of Saint Thomas

 Diocese of Saint Thomas of Guiana

 Diocese of Saint Thomas of Mylapur

 Jean-Baptiste de Saint-Vallier

 Abbey of Saint-Victor

 Achard de Saint-Victor

 Society of Saint Vincent de Paul

 George Augustus Henry Sala

 Diocese of Salamanca

 Salamis

 Epiphanius of Salamis

 Louis-Siffren-Joseph Salamon

 Domingo de Salazar

 Diocese of Sale

 Salem

 Diocese of Salerno

 Salesian Society

 Diocese of Salford

 Salimbene degli Adami

 Ancient Diocese of Salisbury

 Saliva Indians

 Salmanticenses and Complutenses

 Salmas

 Alphonsus Salmeron

 Salome

 Salt

 Diocese of Salta

 Diocese of Saltillo

 Diocese of Salt Lake

 Diocese of Salto

 Coluccio di Pierio di Salutati

 Diocese of Saluzzo

 Juan Maria Salvatierra

 Salvation

 Salve Mundi Salutare

 Salve Regina

 Salvete Christi Vulnera

 Salvianus

 Archdiocese of Salzburg

 Joseph Salzmann

 Sámar and Leyte

 Samaria

 Samaritan Language and Literature

 Joseph Anton Sambuga

 Samoa

 Diocese of Samogitia

 Samos

 Samosata

 Richard Sampson

 St. Samson

 Samson (1)

 Samson (2)

 Samuco Indians

 Diocese of San Antonio

 Diocese of San Carlos de Ancud

 Alonzo Sánchez

 Alonzo Coello Sánchez

 José Bernardo Sánchez

 Thomas Sanchez

 Sanction

 Sanctity (Mark of the Church)

 Sanctorum Meritis

 Sanctuary (1)

 Sanctuary (2)

 Sanctus

 Episcopal Sandals

 Sandemanians

 Felino Maria Sandeo

 Anton Sander

 Nicholas Sander

 Diocese of Sandhurst

 Diocese of Sandomir

 Sands

 Vicariate Apostolic of the Sandwich Islands

 Ven. John Sandys

 Sanetch Indians

 Archdiocese of San Francisco

 San Gallo

 Sanhedrin

 Diocese of San José de Costa Rica

 Diocese of San Juan

 Diocese of Sankt Pölten

 Prefecture Apostolic of San León del Amazonas

 Diocese of San Luis Potosí

 Diocese of San Marco and Bisignano

 San Marino

 San Martino al Cimino

 San Miniato

 Jacopo Sannazaro

 Diocese of San Salvador

 San Salvador

 Piero da San Sepolcro

 Diocese of San Severino

 Gaetano Sanseverino

 Diocese of San Severo

 Andrea Contucci del Sansovino

 Diocese of Santa Agata dei Goti

 Santa Casa di Loreto

 Diocese of Santa Catharina

 Diocese of Santa Cruz de la Sierra

 Archdiocese of Santa Fe

 Diocese of Santa Fe

 Prelature Nullius of Santa Lucia del Mela

 Diocese of Santa Maria

 Abbey Nullius of Santa Maria de Monserrato

 Diocese of Santa Marta

 Diocese of Santander

 Diocese of Sant' Angelo de' Lombardi

 Diocese of Sant' Angelo in Vado and Urbania

 Prelature nullius of Santarem

 Diocese of Santa Severina

 University of Santiago

 Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile

 Diocese of Santiago del Estero

 Giovanni Sante Gaspero Santini

 Archdiocese of Santo Domingo

 Joao dos Santos

 Mission of San Xavier del Bac

 Diocese of São Carlos do Pinhal

 Diocese of São Luiz de Cáceres

 Diocese of São Luiz de Maranhão

 Archdiocese of São Paulo

 Archiocese of São Salvador de Bahia de Todos os Santos

 Archdiocese of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro

 Diocese of São Thiago de Cabo Verde

 Diocese of Sappa

 Sara

 Sarabaites

 Diocese of Saragossa

 Sarayacú Mission

 Mathias Casimir Sarbiewski

 Sardes

 Sardica

 Council of Sardica

 Sardinia

 Sarepta

 Januarius Maria Sarnelli

 Paolo Sarpi

 Patrick Sarsfield

 Diocese of Sarsina

 Andrea del Sarto

 Sarum Rite

 Sasima

 Saskatchewan and Alberta

 Archdiocese of Sassari

 Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato

 Satala

 Francesco Satolli

 St. Saturninus

 Sauatra

 Saul

 Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie

 Diocese of Savannah

 Savaric

 Savary

 Abbey of Savigny

 Diocese of Savona and Noli

 Girolamo Savonarola

 Savoy

 Jean de Saxe

 Saxe-Altenburg

 Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

 Saxe-Meiningen

 Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach

 Saxo Grammaticus

 Saxony

 Albert of Saxony

 Scala Sancta (Holy Stairs)

 Julius Caesar Scaliger

 Scalimoli

 Ellakim Parker Scammon

 Scandal

 Filippo Scannabecchi

 Scapular

 Giovanni Battista Scaramelli

 Pierfrancesco Scarampi

 Alessandro Scarlatti

 Paul Scarron

 Scepticism

 Friedrich Wilhelm Schadow

 Herman Schaepman

 Schäftlarn

 Johann Adam Schall von Bell

 Johann Friedrich Schannat

 Hans Leonhard Schäufelin

 Schaumburg-Lippe

 Constantine, Baron von Schäzler

 Hartmann Schedel

 Matthias Joseph Scheeben

 John James Scheffmacher

 Christopher Scheiner

 Johann Nepomuk Schelble

 Emmanuel Schelstrate

 Maurus von Schenkl

 Schenute

 Georg Scherer

 Theodore, Count von Scherer-Boccard

 Matthæus Schinner

 Schism

 The Eastern Schism

 Western Schism

 Friedrich von Schlegel

 Schleswig

 Aloysius Schlör

 John Frederick Henry Schlosser

 Francis Xavier Schmalzgrueber

 Christoph von Schmid

 Friedrich von Schmidt

 Gerard Schneemann

 Matthias von Schoenberg

 Peter Schöffer

 Schola Cantorum

 Scholasticism

 Herman Scholliner

 Charles Mathieu Schols

 John Martin Augustine Scholz

 Schönborn

 Martin Schongauer

 Schöningh

 Schools

 Apostolic Schools

 Clerks Regular of the Pious Schools

 Burghard Freiherr von Schorlemer-Alst

 Gaspar Schott

 Schottenklöster

 Clement Schrader

 Dominic Schram

 Franz Paula von Schrank

 Johann Schraudolph

 Franz Schubert

 Joseph Schwane

 Theodor Schwann

 Ludwig von Schwanthaler

 Berthold Schwarz

 Schwarzburg

 Friedrich, Prince of Schwarzenberg

 Schwenckfeldians

 Moritz von Schwind

 Science and the Church

 Scillium

 Martyrs of Scillium

 Archdiocese of Scopia

 Ven. William Maurus Scot

 Scotism and Scotists

 Scotland

 Established Church of Scotland

 Scoto-Hibernian Monasteries

 The Scots College

 Ven. Montford Scott

 Diocese of Scranton

 Scribes

 Scriptorium

 Scripture

 Scruple

 Scrutiny

 Sculpture

 Archdiocese of Scutari

 Scythopolis

 Seal

 Law of the Seal of Confession

 Diocese of Seattle

 Sebaste

 Armenian Catholic Diocese of Sebastia

 St. Sebastian

 Bl. Sebastian Newdigate

 Sebastopolis

 Diocese of Sebenico

 Angelo Secchi

 Sechelt Indians

 St. Sechnall

 Diocese of Seckau

 Secret (Secernere)

 Secret

 Sect and Sects

 Secular Clergy

 Secularism

 Secularization

 Thomas Sedgwick

 Sedia Gestatoria

 Sedilia

 Seduction

 Sedulius

 Sedulius Scotus

 Seekers

 Francis X. Seelos

 Seerth

 Diocese of Séez

 Charles John Seghers

 Paolo Segneri, the Elder

 Segni

 Diocese of Segorbe

 Diocese of Segovia

 Louis Gaston de Ségur

 Sophie Rostopchine, Comtesse de Ségur

 Diocese of Sehna

 Johann Gabriel Seidl

 Alexander Maximilian Seitz

 Diocese of Sejny

 Sekanais

 Seleucians

 Seleucia Pieria

 Seleucia Trachæa

 Seleucids

 Self-Defence

 José Selgas y Carrasco

 Selge

 Selinus

 Giulio Lorenzo Selvaggio

 Selymbria

 Sem

 Semiarians and Semiarianism

 Ecclesiastical Seminary

 Semipelagianism

 Semites

 Semitic Epigraphy

 Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis

 Raphael Semmes

 Balthasar Seña

 St. Senan

 José Francisco de Paula Señan

 Sénanque

 Seneca Indians

 Aloys Senefelder

 Vicariate Apostolic of Senegambia

 Archdiocese of Sens

 Councils of Sens

 Sentence

 Notre-Dame de Saint-Lieu Sept-Fons

 Septimius Severus

 Septuagesima

 Septuagint Version

 Archdiocese of Serajevo

 Seraphim

 St. Seraphin of Montegranaro

 Bl. Seraphina Sforza

 St. Serapion

 Serapion

 Diocese of La Serena

 John Sergeant

 Ven. Richard Sergeant

 Sergiopolis

 Sergius and Bacchus

 Pope St. Sergius I

 Pope Sergius II

 Pope Sergius III

 Pope Sergius IV

 Girolamo Seripando

 Jean-Baptiste-Louis-George Seroux d'Agincourt

 Alessandro Serpieri

 Junípero Serra

 Serrae

 Congregation of the Servants of the Most Blessed Sacrament

 Servia

 Order of Servites

 Servus servorum Dei

 Diocese of Sessa-Aurunca

 Benedict Sestini

 Setebo Indians

 Elizabeth Ann Seton

 William Seton

 Desiderio da Settignano

 Seven-Branch Candlestick

 Seven Deacons

 Seven Robbers

 Severian

 Pope Severinus

 Alexander Severus

 Severus Sanctus Endelechus

 Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, Madame de Sévigné

 Archdiocese of Seville

 University of Seville

 Sexagesima

 St. Sexburga

 Sext

 Sexton

 Celestino Sfondrati

 The Religion of Shakespeare

 Shamanism

 Shammai

 Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Shan-si

 Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Shan-si

 Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Shan-tung

 Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Shan-tung

 Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Shan-tung

 James Sharpe

 John Dawson Gilmary Shea

 Sir Ambrose Shea

 Richard Lalor Sheil

 Edward Sheldon

 Richard Shelley

 Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Shen-si

 Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Shen-si

 John Shepherd

 Sherborne Abbey

 Diocese of Sherbrooke

 Philip Henry Sheridan

 Martin Sherson

 William Sherwood

 James Shields

 Shi-koku

 Vicariate Apostolic of Shire

 William Shirwood

 Diocese of Shrewsbury

 Shrines of Our Lady and the Saints in Great Britain and Ireland

 The Holy Shroud (of Turin)

 Shrovetide

 Shuswap Indians

 Vicariate Apostolic of Siam

 Joseph Sibbel

 Siberia

 Marie-Dominique-Auguste Sibour

 Sibylline Oracles

 Sicard

 Sicca Veneria

 Sichem

 Sicily

 Sidon (1)

 Sidon (2)

 Sidonius Apollinaris

 Sidyma

 Archdiocese of Siena

 University of Siena

 Cyril Sieni

 Vicariate Apostolic of Sierra Leone (Sierræ Leonis, Sierra-Leonensis)

 St. Sigebert

 Sigebert of Gembloux

 Siger of Brabant

 Sigismund

 Sign of the Cross

 Luca Signorelli

 Diocese of Sigüenza

 Sikhism

 Silandus

 Silence

 Silesia

 Siletz Indians

 Siloe

 Ven. Gonçalo Da Silveira

 Pope St. Silverius

 Francis Silvester

 St. Silvia

 Simeon

 Holy Simeon

 Simeon of Durham

 St. Simeon Stylites the Elder

 St. Simeon Stylites the Younger

 Archdiocese of Simla

 St. Simon the Apostle

 Simone da Orsenigo

 Simonians

 Simon Magus

 Bl. Simon of Cascia

 Simon of Cramaud

 Simon of Cremona

 Simon of Sudbury

 Simon of Tournai

 St. Simon Stock

 Volume 15

 Simony

 Pope St. Simplicius

 Simplicius, Faustinus, and Beatrice

 Richard Simpson

 Sin

 Sinai

 Diocese of Sinaloa

 Diocese of Sinigaglia

 Sinis

 Sinope

 Diocese of Sion

 Sion

 Diocese of Sioux City

 Diocese of Sioux Falls

 Sioux Indians

 Sipibo Indians

 Pope St. Siricius

 Guglielmo Sirleto

 Diocese of Sirmium

 Jacques Sirmond

 Pope Sisinnius

 Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, Ohio

 Sisters of the Little Company of Mary

 Sistine Choir

 Sitifis

 Buenaventura Sitjar

 Siunia

 Pope St. Sixtus I

 Pope St. Sixtus II

 Pope St. Sixtus III

 Pope Sixtus IV

 Pope Sixtus V

 Peter Skarga

 Josef Skoda (Schkoda)

 Slander

 Slavery

 Ethical Aspect of Slavery

 Slaves

 Slavonic Language and Liturgy

 The Slavs

 The Slavs in America

 Anton Martin Slomšek

 John Slotanus

 Sloth

 Thomas Slythurst

 Smalkaldic League

 Ardo Smaragdus

 James Smith

 Richard Smith (1)

 Richard Smith (2)

 Thomas Kilby Smith

 Latin Archdiocese of Smyrna

 Snorri Sturluson

 Ven. Peter Snow

 Sobaipura Indians

 John Sobieski

 Socialism

 Socialistic Communities

 Catholic Societies

 American Federation of Catholic Societies

 Secret Societies

 Society

 Catholic Church Extension Society

 Society of Foreign Missions of Paris

 Society of Jesus

 Society of the Blessed Sacrament

 Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

 Socinianism

 Sociology

 Diocese of Socorro

 Socrates (1)

 Socrates (2)

 Sodality

 Sodoma

 Sodom and Gomorrha

 Ancient Diocese of Sodor and Man

 Diocese of Soissons

 Solari

 Solemnity

 Abbey of St. Solesmes

 Soli

 Solicitation

 Prefecture Apostolic of Solimôes Superiore

 Solomon

 Psalms of Solomon

 Prefecture Apostolic of Northern Solomon Islands

 Prefecture Apostolic of Southern Solomon Islands

 Diocese of Solsona

 Somaliland

 Somaschi

 Thomas Somerset

 Religious Song

 Songish Indians

 Franciscus Sonnius

 Son of God

 Son of Man

 Diocese of Sonora

 Sophene

 Sophists

 Sophonias

 St. Sophronius

 Sophronius

 Sora

 Paul de Sorbait

 Sorbonne

 Edward Sorin

 Archdiocese of Sorrento

 Feasts of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 Dominic Soto

 Soul

 South Carolina

 South Dakota

 Ven. William Southerne

 Diocese of Southwark

 Ven. Robert Southwell

 Ven. John Southworth

 Diocese of Sovana and Pitigliano

 Salaminius Hermias Sozomen

 Sozopolis

 Sozusa

 Space

 Andrea Spagni

 Spain

 Spanish Language and Literature

 Spanish-American Literature

 Diocese of Spalato-Macarsca (Salona)

 Martin John Spalding

 Lazzaro Spallanzani

 Sparta

 Species

 Josef Speckbacher

 Speculation

 Nicola Spedalieri

 Friedrich von Spee

 Bl. John Speed

 Hon. George Spencer

 John Spenser

 Ven. William Spenser

 Diocese of Speyer

 Johann and Wendelin von Speyer

 Joseph Spillmann

 Alphonso de Spina

 Bartolommeo Spina

 Christopher Royas de Spinola

 Benedict Spinoza

 Spire

 Spirit

 Spiritism

 Diocese of Spirito Santo

 Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius

 Spiritualism

 Spirituals

 Spokan Indians

 Archdiocese of Spoleto

 Henri Spondanus

 Gasparo Luigi Pacifico Spontini

 Patritius Sporer

 Ven. Cæsar Sportelli

 Diocese of Springfield

 Ven. Thomas Sprott

 Squamish Indians

 Herbert Goldsmith Squiers

 Diocese of Squillace

 Stabat Mater

 John Evangelist Stadler

 Stained Glass

 Stalls

 Stanbrook Abbey

 William Clarkson Stanfield

 St. Stanislas Kostka

 St. Stanislaus of Cracow

 Diocese of Stanislawow

 Vicariate Apostolic of Stanley Falls

 Valentin Stansel

 Richard Stanyhurst

 Stanza

 Joseph Ambrose Stapf

 Friedrich Staphylus

 Theobald Stapleton

 Thomas Stapleton

 Simon Starowolski

 Eliza Allen Starr

 State and Church

 State or Way

 States of the Church

 Station Days

 Ecclesiastical Statistics

 Statistics of Religions

 Benedict Stattler

 Franz Anton Staudenmaier

 Johann von Staupitz

 Stauropolis

 Stedingers

 Giacomo Gaetani Stefaneschi

 Agostino Steffani

 Diocese of Steinamanger

 Eduard von Steinle

 Ferdinand Steinmeyer

 Nicolaus Steno

 St. Stephen (1)

 St. Stephen (2)

 Pope St. Stephen I

 Pope Stephen II

 Pope Stephen (II) III

 Pope Stephen (III) IV

 Pope Stephen (IV) V

 Pope Stephen (V) VI

 Pope Stephen (VI) VII

 Pope Stephen (VII) VIII

 Pope Stephen (VIII) IX

 Pope Stephen (IX) X

 St. Stephen Harding

 Stephen of Autun

 Stephen of Bourbon

 St. Stephen of Muret

 Stephen of Tournai

 Henry Robert Stephens

 Thomas Stephens

 Agostino Steuco

 Joseph Stevenson

 Simon Stevin

 Adalbert Stifter

 Mystical Stigmata

 Stipend

 Stockholm

 Albert Stöckl

 Charles Warren Stoddard

 Stoics and Stoic Philosophy

 Stolberg

 Stole

 Alban Isidor Stolz

 Corner Stone

 Mary Jean Stone

 Marmaduke Stone

 Precious Stones in the Bible

 Stoning in Scripture

 James Stonnes

 Stonyhurst College

 Veit Stoss

 Antonio Stradivari

 Abbey of Strahov

 John Strain

 Ven. Edward Stransham

 Diocese of Strasburg

 Stratonicea

 Franz Ignaz von Streber

 Franz Seraph Streber

 Hermann Streber

 Joseph Georg Strossmayer

 Henry Benedict Maria Clement Stuart

 Studion

 Diocese of Stuhlweissenburg (Székes-Fehérvàr)

 Stylites (Pillar Saints)

 Styria

 Francisco Suárez

 Subdeacon

 Subiaco

 Subreption

 Episcopal Subsidies

 Substance

 Suburbicarian Dioceses

 Vicariate Apostolic of Sudan

 Sufetula

 Ven. John Sugar

 Suger

 Suicide

 Suidas

 St. Suitbert

 Alexander Martin Sullivan

 Peter John Sullivan

 Maurice de Sully

 Sulpicians in the United States

 Sulpicius Severus

 Sulpitius

 Prefecture Apostolic of Sumatra

 Summæ

 Catholic Summer Schools

 Sunday

 Diocese of Superior

 Supernatural Order

 Superstition

 The Last Supper

 Supremi disciplinæ

 Sura

 Jean-Joseph Surin

 Laurentius Surius

 Surplice

 Diocese of Susa

 Susa

 Suspension

 Ven. Robert Sutton

 Sir Richard Sutton

 Order of the Swan

 Sweden

 Swedenborgians

 Sophie-Jeanne Soymonof Swetchine

 Konrad Sweynheim

 Swinomish Indians

 St. Swithin

 Switzerland

 Archdiocese of Sydney

 Syene

 Edmund Sykes

 Syllabus

 Pope St. Sylvester I

 Pope Sylvester II

 Bernard Sylvester

 St. Sylvester Gozzolini

 Sylvestrines

 Francis Sylvius

 Symbolism

 Pope St. Symmachus

 Symmachus the Ebionite

 St. Symphorosa

 Synagogue

 Synaus

 Synaxarion

 Synaxis

 Syncelli

 Syncretism

 Synderesis

 Apostolic Syndic

 Syndicalism

 Synesius of Cyrene

 Synnada

 Synod

 National Synods

 Synoptics

 Syntagma Canonum

 Syon Monastery

 Diocese of Syra

 Archdiocese of Syracuse

 Diocese of Syracuse

 Syria

 Syriac Hymnody

 Syriac Language and Literature

 East Syrian Rite

 West Syrian Rite

 Stephan Szántó (Arator)

 Diocese of Szatmár

 Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Sze-Ch'wan

 Vicariate Apostolic of North-western Sze-ch'wan

 Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Sze-ch'wan

 Martin Szentiványi

 Joseph Szujski

 Simon Szymonowicz

Catholic Societies


Catholic societies are very numerous throughout the world; some are international in scope, some are national; some diocesan and others parochial. These are treated in particular under their respective titles throughout the Encyclopedia, or else under the countries or the dioceses in which they exist. This article is concerned only with Catholic societies in general. The right of association is one of the natural rights of man. It is not surprising, therefore, that from earliest antiquity societies of the most diverse kinds should have been formed. In pagan Rome the Church was able to carry on its work and elude the persecuting laws, only under the guise of a private corporation or society. When it became free it encouraged the association of its children in various guilds and fraternities, that they might more easily, while remaining subject to the general supervision of ecclesiastical authority, obtain some special good for their souls or bodies or both simultaneously. By a society we understand the voluntary and durable association of a number of persons who pledge themselves to work together to obtain some special end. Of such societies there is a great variety, in the Church both for laymen and clerics, the most perfect species of the latter being the regular orders and religious congregations bound by perpetual vows. As to societies of laymen, we may distinguish broadly three classes: (a) confraternities, which are associations of the faithful canonically erected by the proper ecclesiastical superior to promote a Christian method of life by special works of piety towards God, e.g. the splendour of divine worship, or towards one's neighbour, e.g. the spiritual or corporal works of mercy (see CONFRATERNITY); (b) pious associations, whose objects are generally the same as those of confraternities, but which are not canonically erected (see ASSOCIATIONS, Pious); and (c) societies whose members are Catholics, but which are not in the strict sense of the word religious societies. Some of these associations are ecclesiastical corporations in the strict acceptation of the term, while others are merely subordinate and dependent parts of the parish or diocesan organization, or only remotely connected with it. Church corporations, inasmuch as they are moral or legal persons, have the right, according to canon law, of making by-laws for their association by the suffrage of the members, of electing their own officers, of controlling their property within the limits of the canons, and of making provision, according to their own judgment, for their preservation and growth. They have, consequently, certain defined rights, both original or those derived from their constitution, and adventitious or what they have acquired by privilege or concession. Among original rights of all ecclesiastical corporations are the right of exclusion or the expelling of members; of selection or the adoption of new members; of convention or meeting for debate and counsel; of assistance or aiding their associates who suffer from a violation of their corporate rights. Societies of this nature have an existence independent of the individual members and can be dissolved only by ecclesiastical decree. Catholic societies which are not church corporations may be founded and dissolved at the will of their members. Sometimes they are approved, or technically praised, by ecclesiastical authority, but they are also frequently formed without any intervention of the hierarchy. In general, it may be said that Catholic societies of any description are very desirable.

The Church has always watched with singular care over the various organizations formed by the faithful for the promotion of any good work, and the popes have enriched them with indulgences. No hard and fast rules have been made, however, as to the method of government. Some societies, e.g. the Propagation of the Faith and the Holy Childhood, are general in their scope; others, e.g. the Church Extension Society of the United States, are peculiar to one country. It sometimes happens that an association formed for one country penetrates into another, e.g. the Piusverein, the Society of Christian Mothers, etc. There are also societies instituted to provide for some special need, as an altar or tabernacle society, or for the furthering of some special devotion, as the Holy Name Society. For societies which are general in their scope, the Holy See frequently appoints a cardinal protector and reserves the choice of the president to itself. This is likewise done as a mark of special favour to some societies which are only national, as the Church Extension Society of the United States (Brief of Pius X, 9 June, 1910). In general, it mag be affirmed that it is the special duty of the bishop and the parish priest to found or promote such societies as the faithful of their districts may be in need of. Utility and necessity often vary with the circumstances of time and country. In some lands it has been found possible and advisable for the Church authorities to form Catholic societies of workingmen. These are trades-unions under ecclesiastical auspices and recall the old Catholic guilds of the Middle Ages. Zealous bishops and priests have made the promotion of such societies, as in Germany and Belgium, a special work, in the hope of preventing Catholic workingmen from being allured by temporal gain into atheistic societies in which the foundations of civil and religious institutions are attacked. In these unions a priest appointed by the bishop gives religious instructions which are particularly directed against the impious arguments of those who seek to destroy the morals and faith of the workingman. Methods are pointed out for regulating the family life according to the laws of God; temperance, frugality, and submission to lawful authority are urged, and frequentation of the sacraments insisted on. These unions also provide innocent amusements for their members. Such societies at times add confraternity and sodality features to their organization.

There are a number of societies formed by Catholics which are not in a strict sense Catholic societies. Nevertheless, as the individual faithful are subject to the authority of the bishop they remain subject to the same authority even as members of an organization. It is true that the bishop may not, in consequence of his ecclesiastical jurisdiction, rule such societies in the same sense as he does confraternities, and pious associations, yet he retains the inalienable right and even the obligation of preventing the faithful from being led into spiritual ruin through societies of whatsoever name or purpose. He can, therefore, if convinced that an organization is harmful, forbid it to assist at church services in its regalia, and, when no emendation results, warn individuals against entering it or remaining members of it. Finally, there are societies which are entirely secular, whose sole purpose is to promote or obtain some commercial, domestic, or political advantage, such as the ordinary trades-unions. In such organizations men of every variety of religious belief combine together, and many Catholics are found among the members. There can be no objection to such societies as long as the end intended and the means employed are licit and honourable. It remains, however, the duty of the bishops to see that members of their flock suffer no diminution of faith or contamination of morals from such organizations. Experience has proved that secular societies, while perfectly unobjectionable in their avowed ends, may cause grave spiritual danger to their members. Bishops and parish priests can not be blamed therefore, if they display some anxiety as to membership in societies which are not avowedly Catholic. If they did otherwise, they would be false to their duty towards their flock. It may be well to quote here the weighty words of an Instruction of the Holy Office (10 May, 1884): "Concerning artisans and labourers, among whom various societies are especially desirous of securing members that they may destroy the very foundations of religion and society, let the bishops place before their eyes the ancient guilds of workingmen, which, under the protection of some patron saint, were an ornament of the commonwealth and an aid to the higher and lower arts. They will again found such societies for men of commercial and literary pursuits, in which the exercises of religion will go hand in hand with the benevolent aims that seek to assuage the ills of sickness, old age, or poverty. Those who preside over such societies should see that the members commend themselves by the probity of their morals, the excellence of their work, the docility and assiduity of their labours, so that they may more securely provide for their sustenance. Let the bishops themselves not refuse to watch over such societies, suggest or approve by-laws, conciliate employers, and give every assistance and patronage that lie in their power."

There are many societies of Catholics or societies of which Catholics are members that employ methods which seem imitations derived from various organizations prohibited by the Church. It may be well, therefore, to state that no Catholic is allowed, as a member of any society whatever, to take an oath of blind and unlimited obedience; or promise secrecy of such a nature that, if circumstances require it, he may not reveal certain things to the lawful ecclesiastical or civil authorities; or join in a ritual which would be equivalent to sectarian worship (see SOCIETIES, SECRET). Even when a society is founded by Catholics or is constituted principally of Catholics, it is possible for it to degenerate into a harmful organization and call for the intervention of the authority of the Church. Such was the fate of the once brilliant and meritorious French society "Le Sillon," which was condemned by Pius X (25 Aug., 1910). It is often expedient for Catholic societies to be incorporated by the civil authority as private corporations. In fact, this is necessary if they wish to possess property or receive bequests in their own name. In some countries, as Russia, such incorporation is almost impossible; in others, as Germany and France, the Government makes many restrictions; but in English-speaking countries there is no difficulty. In England societies may be incorporated not only by special legal act, but also by common law or by prescription. In the United States a body corporate may be formed only by following the plan proposed by a law of Congress or a statute of a state legislature. The procedure varies slightly in different states, but as a rule incorporation is effected by filing a paper in the office of the secretary of state or with a circuit judge, stating the object and methods of the society. Three incorporators are sufficient, and the Petition will always be granted if the purposes of the association are not inconsistent with the laws of the United States or of the particular state in question.

LAURENTIUS, Institutiones juris ecclesiastici (Fribourg, 1905); WERNZ, Jus decretalium, III (Rome, 1901); AICHNER, Compendium juris ecclesiastici (Brixen, 1895); BERINGER, Die Ablaesse (13th ed., Paderborn, 1911; French tr., 1905); TAYLOR, The Law of Private Corporations (New York, 1902); Handbook of Catholic Charitable and Social Works (London, 1912).

WILLIAM H.W. FANNING