At this link is a great source for learning about Catholic Confraternities and Associations, which have links for them as well:
http://thecatholicreader.blogspot.com/p/normal-0-adorers-of-precious-blood.html
The ones they have listed are:
Adorers of the Precious Blood
Today the Associate Program is a diverse group of women & men of all ages who are married, single, lay, religious & clergy. The group collaborates closely with the ASCs. Together they share a spiritual friendship & covenant relationship that supports one another's desire to more fully live out their Baptismal Call.
Apostleship of Prayer
The Apostleship of Prayer is one of the simplest yet most effective means of devotion available to Catholics today, though most are unaware of it. It has not only been approved of but recommended & promoted by every Pope for the last 100 years.
Associates of Akita
Laminated Akita Eucharistic Prayer Card & Certificate of Membership in the Associates of Akita to all those who are willing to make the following commitments Saying a Short Prayer Daily, Daily Rosary, Wearing the Scapular, & Making One Sacrifice a day in reparation to the Sacred Hearts.
Association of Mary,Help of Christians
"The principal objective is to promote veneration of the Blessed Sacrament and devotion to Mary Help of Christians. This title seems to please the august Queen of Heaven very much." So writes St. John Bosco about the promotion of the devotion to Mary Help of Christians (auxilium christianorum).
Association of the Miraculous Medal
This is a unique opportunity for you to enroll someone in the Association of the Miraculous Medal. A perpetual member of the Association shares the spiritual benefits of membership as long as the Shrine & the Association continue.
Brothers and Sisters of Penance
The Brothers & Sisters of Penance is a new de facto private lay association of the Catholic Church whose members live modern statutes to a Primitive Rule for penitents written in 1221 at the request of St. Francis of Assisi. Both the Association & the Rule of life have been submitted to several bishops of the Roman Catholic Church & have received their informal approval to be lived & promoted.
Community of Christ Crucified
The Community of Christ Crucified has a 2-fold orientation: To center one's life on Jesus' Suffering. Christ Jesus will be the Way, the Companion & Friend on this spiritual journey of life. To strive for a compassionate heart. This will enable one to discover & serve the image of Jesus in the suffering poor & needy. To Enroll: Community of Christ Crucified, Fr Victor Hoagland, C.P. 326 Monastery Place, Union City, NJ 07087 USA
The Company of Mary
Also The Daughters of Wisdom & The Brothers of St. Gabriel. In these pages you can read about the life of St. Louis Marie De Montfort, about his writings & his Spirituality, & you can obtain more information concerning the 3 Congregations. The family also includes various groups of Lay people, called "Associates", who've been inspired by the spirituality of St. Louis Marie, & work more or less closely with his followers.
Confraternity of Penitents
Penance means conversion. The Confraternity of Penitents is a world wide private Catholic association of the faithful, completely loyal to our Pope & the Magisterium.
The Confraternity of Saint Michael
The Confraternity of St. Michael is made available to the faithful to enable them to work in a directed way toward their personal sanctification through traditional divine worship & traditional devotional practices. Any list member, man or woman, clergy or layman, married or single, may participate.
Confraternity of the Passion
St. Paul of the Cross founded the Congregation of the Passion to promote an ever deepening devotion to the suffering & death of Christ. Through the preaching, prayer & example of a life lived at the foot of the Cross, in the company of our Sorrowful Mother, Mary, the Passionist Fathers, Brothers, Nuns & Sisters and the members of the Confraternity, endeavor to spread the real meaning of God's love for us, a love that Jesus manifested upon the Cross. "There is no greater love than this, to lay down your life for your friends." You may become a member of the Confraternity by following the Confraternity Way of Life. You enroll in the Official Ledger of the Confraternity. Say Daily Prayers to Jesus Crucified. Receive the Sacraments frequently. Cultivate a personal devotion to Jesus Crucified & His Sorrowful Mother.
Confraternity ofthe Precious Blood
We trust that our fidelity to our vocation is a living witness to the greatness of God's merciful love. "ONE WITH THE HEART OF CHRIST, WE PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS: CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD HAS REDEEMED US BY HIS BLOOD! Come let us Adore."
Friends of the Suffering Souls
The Friends of the Suffering Souls is an organization that assists the souls in Purgatory by arranging for Masses to be offered each & every day of the year for their benefit & especially for the benefit of deceased members.
Holy Face Association
To promote this devotion, the Holy Face Association was established in Montreal, Canada on May 26, 1976. The goal of this apostolate is reparation to God (Father, Son & Holy Spirit) through contemplative devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus. This is accomplished through the diffusion of Holy Face pictures, leaflets & medals throughout the world. The apostolate recalls the words of St. Paul "that Christ crucified must be preached ."
Holy Trinity Apostolate
Holy Trinity Apostolate, a lay organization faithful to Holy Mother Church & obedient to the magisterium, is dedicated to bringing the "Splendor of Truth" of the Roman Catholic Church to light through the media of radio, television, conferences & other means of public communication as directed by Vatican Council II. We are guided by the Most Holy Trinity through the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The Legion Of Mary
(The Legion of Mary is the largest apostolic organization of lay people in the Catholic Church, with well over 3 million active members in almost every country of the world. It has been active in the United States since 1931, has been approved by the last 6 Popes, & was endorsed by the Second Vatican Council. The main purpose of the Legion of Mary is to give glory to God through the sanctification of its members.)
Mary Mediatrix
The Franciscans of the Immaculate employ every licit apostolic activities after the example of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe & the summon of the Holy Father to a renewed evangelization in our times. There are, however, several specific apostolic activities that we are involved with.
Militia of the Immaculata
Marian consecration is a formal act of self-giving that doesn't stop at Mary, but is Christ-directed. It is really consecration to Jesus. The MI's mission is "To Lead Every Individual With Mary to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus." By joining the MI, members become willing instruments of Our Lady, the woman foreshadowed in Genesis 3:15. She leads them to personal sanctification, the conversion of Church opponents and ultimately the universal reign of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Opus Sanctorum Angelorum
A spiritual movement within the bosom of the Holy Catholic Church which aims at fostering an intimate collaboration with the holy angels for the glorification of God & for the sanctification (salvation) of souls.
Our Lady of Sorrows - Friar Servants of Mary
The purpose of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Sorrows is to foster devotion to the passion of Christ & the sorrows of Mary, Mother of the Lord. The members of the Confraternity strive to develop the virtue of compassion so that they might be with their suffering brothers & sisters through prayer & works of mercy.
Our Mother of Perpetual Help
The Confraternity spreads devotion to our Mother of Perpetual Help through distributing prayer cards, participating in weekly novenas & conducting special events.
Pious Union of Saint Joseph
All members ardently honor St. Joseph on March 19th & every Wednesday. Daily, we pray our prayer & perform sacrifice & good deeds for suffering & dying people.
The Sacred Heart Apostolate
We are about the Sacred Heart of Jesus & families. Our on-going goal & focus in this time of grace is to bring forth Jesus Christ as the "Enthroned King of the World." We strive to reach this goal by the enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in families, homes, institutions, businesses, schools, parishes, communities, & groups dedicated to living out the Gospel message.
Society of the Little Flower
The Mission of the Society of the Little Flower is to promote devotion to St. Therese of the Child Jesus, the Carmelite Nun & Doctor of the Church. Through prayers & donations, friends of St. Therese enable Carmelites to continue her "Shower of Roses" in their ministries & in the education of seminarians.
The Real Presence Association - Adorer's Society
You're invited to join your brothers & sisters throughout world to make Gethsemane your favorite place of retirement in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ. To become a member of the Fr. John A. Hardon Eucharistic Adorers Society just offer to spend one hour each week in the garden with Jesus through adoration of the Blessed Sacrament exposed in the monstrance or reserved in the tabernacle.
The Rosary Confraternity
The Rosary Confraternity is a spiritual association, members of which strive to pray the 15 mysteries of the Rosary during the course of each week
The World Apostolate of Fatima
The Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima is a Church approved Catholic Lay Association, more than 50 years old, founded to spread message of Our Lady of Fatima. Members pray a part of Rosary each day, wear the Brown Scapular, & offer their daily duties to God.
Universal Living Rosary Association
The Living Rosary isn't a new devotion, but a continuation of the Rosary preached by St. Dominic & announced by Our Lady for centuries. The Living Rosary Association was founded by Pauline Marie Jaricot, who is also foundress of Society of the Propagation of the Faith. The indulgences granted to this simple devotion include all those of Confraternity of the Holy Rosary & more!
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I did some research and found some other confraternities, and learned that there are Archconfraternities, and Archconfraternities and Confraternities of the Cord:
Confraternities of the Cord
From Wikipedia
Background
In early Church virgins wore a cincture as a sign & emblem of purity, & hence it has always been considered a symbol of chastity as well as of mortification & humility. The wearing of a cord or cincture in honor of a saint is of very ancient origin, & we find first mention of it in life of St. Monica.In Middle Ages cinctures were also worn by faithful in honor of saints, though no confraternities were formally established, & wearing of a cincture in honor of Saint Michael was general throughout France. Later on, ecclesiastical authority set apart special formulae for blessing of cinctures in honor of Most Precious Blood, of Our Lady, of Saint Francis of Paola, & Saint Philomena.[1]
Confraternities had their beginnings in early Middle Ages, & developed rapidly from end of 12th century from rise of great ecclesiastical orders. The main object & duty of these societies were, above all, practice of piety & works of charity. There are various confraternities of the Cord, whose members wear a cord as insignia just as members of other confraternities wear a scapular. [2] There are in the Church 3 archconfraternities & one confraternity members of which wear a cord or cincture.
The Archconfraternity of Our Lady of Consolation
(This is also known as the "Archconfraternity of the Black Leather Belt of Saint Monica, Saint Augustine & Saint Nicholas of Tolentine".)The oldest & most celebrated of these Confraternities of the Cord is probably the "Archconfraternity of the Black Leathern Belt of Saint Monica, Saint Augustine & Saint Nicholas of Tolentino", also called "Archconfraternity of Our Lady of Consolation".[2]
According to an old tradition, Saint Monica, in a vision received a black leather belt from Blessed Virgin, who assured the holy widow that she would take under her special protection all those who wore it in her honor. Saint Monica related this vision to Saint Ambrose & Saint Simplician; both saints thereupon put on a leather belt, & Ambrose is said to have girded her son, Saint Augustine, with it at his baptism. Later on, it was adopted by Hermits of St. Augustine as a distinctive part of their habit.[1]
After canonization of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine, it came into general use among the faithful. The title "consolatrix afflictorum" (Consolation of the Afflicted) is part of the Litany of Loreto. The origin of this advocation is Augustinian. Devotion to Our Lady of Consolation was propagated by Augustinian monks, & began with foundation in 1436 in Bologna, Italy, of the confraternity of the Holy cincture of Our Lady of Consolation.
The title has its origin in a legend according to which Monica, mother of Augustine, sought help & consolation in praying to Our Lady. Mary in answer took her black belt/sash & gave it to Monica with promise that whoever wore this belt would receive her special consolation & protection.[3] By early 18th century custom of asking for final blessing before death in name of Our Lady of Consolation was very popular.[4]
The principal feast of this confraternity is the Sunday within the octave of feast of Saint Augustine (28 August). The members are obliged to wear a black leather belt, to recite daily 13 Paters & Aves & the Salve Regina, & to fast on vigil of feast of Saint Augustine. For erection of & reception into this archconfraternity, special faculties must be had from prior general. The headquarters of society are at Rome, in the Church of St. Augustine where body of Saint Monica lies.[2]
Archconfraternity of the Cord of Saint Francis
After his conversion Francis of Assisi girded himself with a rough cord in manner of the poor of his day, & a white cord with 3 knots came subsequently to form part of the Franciscan habit. According to Franciscan historian Luke Wadding, O.F.M., Saint Dominic received the cord from Saint Francis when they exchanged their girdles in a sign of friendship. From that day on, Dominic always wore it under his habit out of devotion to his fellow founder, his example being followed by many of faithful.
In his bull "Ex supernae dispositionis" (19 Nov 1585), Pope Sixtus V erected the Archconfraternity of the Cord of Saint Francis in Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, enriching it with many indulgences, & conferred upon minister general of the Conventual friars power of erecting confraternities of the cord of Saint Francis in churches of his order & of aggregating them to the archconfraternity at Assisi.
The same pope, in his bull "Divinae caritatis" (29 Aug 1587), granted new indulgences to the archconfraternity & empowered Minister General of Friars Minor to erect confraternities of the cord of Saint Francis in churches of his own order, in those places where there were no Conventuals.
Pope Paul V, in his bull "Cum certas" (2 March 1607), & "Nuper archiconfraternitati" (11 March 1607) revoked all spiritual favors hitherto conceded to the archconfraternity & enriched it with new & more ample indulgences. Both these bulls were confirmed by the brief of Pope Clement X, "Dudum felicis" (13 July 1673).
Pope Benedict XIII in his constitution "Sacrosancti apostolatus" (30 Sept 1724), conceded to minister general of Conventuals authority to erect confraternities of the cord of Saint Francis in churches not belonging to his own order in those places where there were no Franciscans.
New privileges & indulgences were conceded to the archconfraternity by 2 decrees of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences dated 22 March 1879, & 26 May 1883. Besides ordinary requirements necessary for the gaining of all plenary & partial indulgences, wearing of the cord & enrollment in records of archconfraternity are only conditions imposed on members.
Archconfraternity of the Cord of Saint Joseph
The miraculous cure of an Augustinian nun at Antwerp in 1657 from a grievous illness, through wearing of a cord in honor of Saint Joseph, gave rise to pious practice of wearing it to obtain grace of purity through his intercession.The devotion soon spread over many countries of Europe, & in 19th century was revived at Rome in the Church of Saint Roch & in that of Saint Nicolas at Verona, Italy. Pope Pius IX, in a rescript dated 19 Sept 1859, approved a special formula for blessing of the cord of Saint Joseph, & in his brief "Expositum nobis nuper" (14 March 1862) enriched the confraternity with many indulgences.
In 1860, several new indulgences were granted to the confraternity erected in the church of St. Nicholas at Verona & by brief Universi Dominici gregis, 23 Sept 1862, the Confraternity of the Cord of Saint Joseph was raised to an archconfraternity.
The members are obliged to wear a cord having 7 knots, & are exhorted to recite daily 7 Glorias in honor of St. Joseph. Confraternities of the Cord of Saint Joseph must be aggregated to archconfraternity in the Church of St. Roch at Rome in order to enjoy its spiritual favors & indulgences.
Confraternity of the Cord of Saint Thomas
It is related in life of Saint Thomas Aquinas that, as a reward for his overcoming a temptation against purity, he was girded with a cord by angels, & that in consequence he was never again tempted against this virtue. This cord is still preserved in the church at Chieri, near Turin, Italy. Soon after the saint's death many of the faithful began to wear a cord in honor of Saint Thomas, to obtain grace of purity through his intercession.In 17th century, societies were formed at different universities, student members of which wore a cord in honor of Saint Thomas, hoping through his intercession to be protected from dangers to which youth is generally exposed.
The first Confraternity of the Cord of Saint Thomas was erected at Catholic University of Leuven by Belgian Dominican friar Franciscus Deurweerders in 1649, & numbered among its members all professors & students of Faculty of Theology (which has Thomas Aquinas as patron saint) & many of faithful. Thence it spread to Maastricht, Vienna, & many other cities of Europe.
Pope Innocent X sanctioned this new confraternity by a brief dated 22 March 1652. The members are required to have their names enrolled, to wear a cord with 15 knots, & to recite daily 15 Ave Marias in honor of Saint Thomas.
For erection of & reception into this confraternity special faculties must be had from master general of Dominicans. Its indulgences & privileges are contained in great bull of Pope Benedict XIII, "Pretiosus" (26 April 1727, sect. 9) & in decree of Sacred Congregation of Indulgences (8 May 1844).
Archconfraternities:
An archconfraternity is a Roman Catholic confraternity, empowered to aggregate or affiliate other confraternities of same nature, & to impart to them its indulgences & privileges.
Status & operation
Canonical erection is approval of proper ecclesiastical authority which gives organization a legal existence. Archconfraternities do not erect confraternities; they merely aggregate them. It ordinarily belongs to the bishop of the diocese to erect confraternities.[1]In the case, however, of many confraternities & archconfraternities, power of erection is vested in heads of certain religious orders. Sometimes privileges of these heads of orders are imparted to bishops. The vicar-general may not erect confraternities unless he has been expressly delegated for purpose by his bishop.[1]
Aggregation, or affiliation, as it is also called, may be made by those only who have received from Holy See express powers for that purpose. They must make use of a prescribed formula. In same church only one confraternity of the same name & purpose may be aggregated. The consent of the bishop must be given in writing.[1]
In case of religious orders aggregating their own confraternities in their own churches, consent of bishop given for erection of house or church of the order is sufficient. The bishop must approve, but may modify practices & regulations of confraternity to be aggregated, except those to which indulgences have been expressly attached. Only those indulgences are imparted by aggregation which have been conceded with that provision.
Only general process of conducting aggregation is given. If it pertains to the bishop to erect the confraternity, then pastor of a church or superior of a religious house petitions him for canonical erection,. If erection pertains to the head of a religious order, then bishop's consent to aggregation is required.
Examples
Some of more widely known archconfraternities are those of Holy Name Society, Blessed Sacrament, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Precious Blood, Holy Face, Holy Rosary, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Sodality of the Blessed Heart of Mary for the Conversion of Sinners, Cord of St. Francis, Christian Doctrine, Bona Mors, Archconfraternity of St. Michael the Archangel & Christian Mothers.---------------------------------
Confraternity of priests
Confraternities of priests - in distinction from the many confraternities open to lay persons - reached an important place of influence in the Roman Catholic Church by end of 19th century. At that point, the Apostolic Union, the Priests' Eucharistic League, & the Priests' Communion League, had become established widely in many countries. There were also such confraternities operating nationally.
A
confraternity is a society of persons associated for some pious object.
The members are linked together by a bond of brotherhood for mutual
co-operation in the pursuit of a specific object of religion or charity
by means of prayer, example, & counsel. A confraternity of priests in
the strict sense of the word seeks before all else the personal
sanctification of its members.Description
Sacerdotal confraternities have as their common object being to preserve priests from the dangers of spiritual & social isolation, & to afford them something of that mutual support which belongs to a religious community. The particular aims of priests' confraternities may be reduced to 3: personal holiness, ecclesiastical learning, & mutual financial aid. Financial assistance embraces cases of sickness & old age, as well as loans, medical attendance, & legal advice.
- The Confraternity of Catholic Clergy was founded in 1975. It is an association of Catholic Priests & Deacons in United States who are pledged to pursuit of personal holiness, loyalty to Roman Pontiff, commitment to theological study & strict adherence to authentic teachings of Magisterium.[1]
- The Australian Confraternity of Catholic Clergy was founded in 1987.
- The Irish Confraternity of Catholic Clergy was established in 2013.[2]
The Society of the Holy Name
The Society of the Holy Name, formally known as the Confraternity of the Most Holy Name of God & Jesus, is a Roman Catholic confraternity of the laity & is one of several which are under the care of the Dominican Order. It is open to all Catholic adults. The primary object of the society is to beget reverence for the Holy Name of God & Jesus Christ; it is also dedicated to making reparations, in particular, for blasphemy, perjury & immorality.[1]
History
The Council of Lyons in 1274 emphasized the need for the faithful to have a special devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. The Dominicans, who were actively spreading the Christian message at this time in a crusade against the Albegensians took on the challenge & preached the power of the Holy Name of Jesus. They spread the devotion extremely effectively. In every Dominican church, altars, confraternities & societies were erected everywhere in honor of the Holy Name.[1]The devotion grew rapidly with the preaching of the Dominican order and several saints (including Bernardino of Siena, a Franciscan, & John of Capistrano). The devotion & confraternities were given further impetus by several grants of indulgence by Pope Boniface IX[1] & Pope Julius II.[2]
The first Holy Name Society in modern sense was founded in early 15th century by Didacus of Victoria, one of the greatest preachers of devotion to the Divine Name. He founded "Society of the Holy Name of God," & created a rule for its governance whose purpose "was to suppress the horrible profanation of the Divine Name by blasphemers, perjurers, & by men in their ordinary conversation." Long after Didacus' death in 1450, Pope Pius IV approved the society on April 13, 1564.
In later years, Society of the Holy Name of God merged with "Confraternity of the Most Holy Name Jesus" maintaining rule laid down by Didacus. The society was thereafter also known under title of "Confraternity Against Oaths." Several Popes following Pius IV in 16th & 17th centuries also made the Confraternity an object of special preference, including, most notably Pope Innocent IX who strongly encouraged its promotion & issued orders regulating its organisation.[1]
The next major step in formation of the modern society came on June 21, 1571, when St. Pius V issued his Motu proprio "Decet Romanum", which restricted canonical erection of the confraternity entirely to the jurisdiction of the Dominican Order & formally recognised "The Confraternity of the Most Holy Names of God."[2]
A final merger came on 26 May 1727, when Pope Benedict XIII confirmed the various privileges on both the "Confraternity of the Holy Name of God" & the "Society of the Name of Jesus" in his document Pretiosus. The 2 confraternities were essentially merged under the name "The Confraternity of the most Holy Names of God & Jesus," & exclusive rights to their governance were given to the Dominicans. In order to establish a local Society of the Holy Name, approval must be granted by the Dominican order, in the form of Letters patent.[2]
For much of its existence, the Holy Name Society was a male society. While some parish Holy Name societies are still all-male, the Holy Name Society as a whole now welcomes both Catholic men & women.
Membership requirements
Membership is open to practicing Catholics over age of 18. Members of the Society must first pass through a Novitiate, or formation, stage before becoming professed members & undergoing Induction Ceremony.[3]Novitiate
During this period of membership, new members undergo a period of formation. Candidates are expected to:- Learn the history, purpose, mission, Spiritual Benefits of membership, the Obligations of Membership & the Holy Name Pledge... They should be given a copy of the Constitution & By-Laws of the Parish Society so they fully understand the purpose of the Confraternity & how it is governed. During their novitiate... novice-members should demonstrate their sincerity & commitment by attending all spiritual conferences, devotional activities & assemblies.[4]
Profession
A candidate becomes a full member after undergoing the Induction Ceremony,[3] making the requisite promises, receiving the Society's handbook & insignia, & being entered into the Society's Official Register.[4]Induction
This ceremony, which is typically carried out on Feast of the Holy Name (January 3), consists of a profession of faith in a parish society chartered to the Dominican Order, as well as a series of solemn promises. These promises are to observe Society's rules & constitutions; to love & respect the Holy Name; to abstain from blasphemy; to reverence Divine law & to respect civil law & civil authority; to love the Pope & to be a full member of the Catholic Church; to believe the Church's teachings, & to teach others of them; & to receive sacraments regularly, pray often & perform works of physical & mental mortification on a regular basis.[3]Following the solemn promises, members receive handbook & a blessed token of the Society (usually a lapel pin).
Activities
The apostolate of the society is to assist in parish ministries by performing Corporal Works of Mercy: to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty, shelter to homeless, tend the sick, visit those in prison, & bury the dead; as well as Spiritual Works of Mercy: to convert sinners, instruct the ignorant, counsel the wayward, comfort the sorrowing, bear adversity patiently, forgive offenses, & pray for the living & the dead.[5]Diocesan & prison ministry
The Society performs these in a specific way at a local level by working on Archdiocesan projects. The National Association of the Holy Name Society, however, works with Prison Community in the State of Pennsylvania (USA), & has been doing so for past 23 years.[6]The canonisation of Blessed John of Vercelli
The other cause sought by the Society is canonization of Blessed John of Vercelli, for which prayers are said at all meetings of the society. He is considered to be "Founding Father" of the Holy Name Society, as it was he who volunteered the Dominican Order for the duty of promoting devotion to the Holy Name at Second Council of Lyon in 1274 (due to death of Thomas Aquinas on his way to council). He was a learned man, heavily involved in the Council. He was amongst other things, nearly elected pope, & had been Master General of the Dominican Order.[7]Worldwide distribution
The Holy Name Society is found in other countries also, although not as strongly as in United States, where membership seems to have remained quite substantial in comparison to other countries. Australia has several branches; however numbers have dwindled in comparison to numbers of 1950s, when membership numbered in excess of 100,000.[8] The Society has had a brief revival beginning in 1998, when the society was canonically erected in Melbourne with ecclesiastical approval, although no subsequent branches have been erected.[9]Purgatorial Societies
from Wikipedia
Purgatorial societies are Roman Catholic Church associations or confraternities which aim to assist souls in purgatory reach heaven. The Catholic doctrine concerning purgatory, the condition of the poor souls after death (particular judgment), the communion of saints, & the satisfactory value of our good works form the basis of these associations. In the modern Church this role is fulfilled by the Purgatorian Archconfraternity which is run under the auspices of the Transalpine Redemptorists.
History
For centuries, associations praying for the purgatorial souls were common.[1] The old religious orders, e.g. the Benedictine Order, especially the Order of Cluny which inaugurated All Soul's Day, also met some of this need. Religious confraternities are likewise distinguished in their early beginnings by a special devotion to the sick & burial of the deceased (e.g. the brotherhood of Constantinople which flourished in 336,[2] & in the West the Confratriæ or Confraternitates of the Middle Ages.) Even the medieval guilds, established primarily for secular purposes, never forgot in their constitutions, to require charity for deceased members.[3]The early associations
In Northern Europe, the medieval associations of prayer called "fraternitates", "societates", & "consortium" are not as well known, although some "Totenbünde" (German for associations for the dead) existed (affording one of the best proofs of the existence of lively faith, especially among the Anglo-Saxons, Franks & the Germanic peoples in general[4]). They were founded chiefly, though not solely, to assist deceased members with prayers, Mass & works of Christian charity.Ducange-Favre defines a Confraternitas "as ... a society formed between various churches and monasteries, abbeys, bishops and noblemen; later kings, princes, bishops, priests & the laity, especially ecclesiastical benefactors, were admitted". The admission papers or the constitutions of the brotherhood usually stated in detail how many Masses, what prayers, & good works would be offered on their death for the repose of the souls of deceased members, in the place of worship or by individuals.
The members were enrolled in a registry (a Liber Vitæ or 'book of life'), a development of the ancient diptychs. Upon the death of a member, a messenger was immediately dispatched with a circular (rotulus) to announce the death to all the affiliated monasteries, where the name was inserted in list of the dead. These lists of the dead were also known as necrologies for constant commemoration; these lists were, like the earlier diptychs, read aloud so that special prayers might be said for the deceased mentioned, & a special commemoration made by the priest during the Eucharist.[5]
The zenith period
In the West, these confraternities attained their greatest prosperity during the era from Carolingian reigns till the end of feudalism. In c. 1400 England, Wyclif issued the first public opposition to these associations.[6] These brotherhoods may be divided into those formed of several monasteries, churches, or individual bishops, priests, abbots & monks. However, kings, princes & other laymen, especially benefactors, were admitted into to these 3 classes, & even the frequently very numerous subordinates of a monastery.Especially during their peak, confraternities were formed among monasteries. In the 9th century, Reichenau was affiliated with more than a hundred other monasteries & chapters in Germany, Switzerland, France & Italy, (this affiliation was chiefly due to the reform of monastery by St. Benedict of Aniane, & is the largest brotherhood known to us. Alcuin worked in west of the Frankish Empire, & before him St. Boniface had sought with eager zeal to establish & foster in Germany such unions & brotherhoods with England & Italy[7]).
Similarly an "Act of Spiritual Association" between the Abbeys of St. Denis of France and St. Remy of Reims,[8] arranged that, within thirty days after the death of a member, entire Office be recited by each of the surviving members, that priests say Masses corresponding to various offices, & that vigils be held in common on the first, 7th, & 13th days.
At mediaeval synods, the bishops & abbots present frequently formed themselves into such brotherhoods, often extending to cathedral chapters & monasteries, & to kings & princes who were present at councils (in the 8th & 9th centuries, a series of such synods took place: Attigny (762); Dingolfing (769); Frankfort (794); Salzburg (799); Freising (805); Clechyt 815:;[9] Savionières near Toul (850).
Brotherhoods were also formed at other English & Italian synods[10]). At diocesan synods all the clergy of a diocese with their bishop formed themselves into brotherhoods, & frequently priests of still smaller districts (rural chapters) formed lesser associations of prayer to which laity were also admitted.[11]
Individuals of every station, rank, & sex eagerly joined these associations, while numerous rich persons funded monasteries to insure a special share in their suffrage after death. English kings, bishops, abbots & Carolingian kings gave them an excellent example, as did St. Boniface & Alcuin. Even laity of lower classes joined brotherhoods of St. Gall & Reichenau.[12]
The communion of spiritual goods & indulgences, granted by monasteries in last centuries to another monastery, to benefactors & friends outside cloister, or to other confraternities, is more than a memorial of old brotherhoods, since in these grants (communicationes) the promise of spiritual help for deceased is one of chief features.
The evolution of modern associations
Along with these brotherhoods, there appeared Confraternitaties more closely resembling present associations. Their chief object was care for poor souls. Among these might be included associations devoting themselves to the spiritual welfare of the dying & their burial.Of the confraternities of the dead, only examples can be cited from earlier centuries, but these show sufficiently clearly how widespread these must then have been. According to an inscription in the Church of Ss. Cosmas & Damian in Rome[13] a number of priests & bishops in Rome formed themselves into an association of sodales (c. 985), each promising that on the death of a member he'd immediately sing 40 Masses for repose of his soul.
The 11th to 15th centuries
At beginning of 11th century, friends of Knut the Great erected in his honor a confraternity at Abbotsbury, according to statutes of which each member should on death of another contribute a penny for repose of his soul.[14] In 1220 Peter, Bishop of Sens ratified a confraternity formed by 13 clergy who bound themselves to celebrate annually 4 anniversaries for benefactors & members.[15]In 1262 twenty-four secular priests united to practice works of mercy for dead, read Masses for repose of their souls, et cetera.[16] In 1355 at Glocknitz a lay confraternity for dead accepted members from other parishes and cared especially for burial of the poor.[17] Ducange-Favre[18] speaks of a pious association, founded in 1413, expressly under name of purgatory, in the old church of Maria Deaurata at Toulouse.
These confraternities concerned themselves almost exclusively with souls of deceased members & benefactors, while later associations worked for the benefit of all souls. Provision for burial was first made by 15th century Compagnia della Pietà (founded in Rome in 1448).[19]
In the newly erected church of the German cemetery, a confraternity "in honor of the bitter Passion of Christ & of the Sorrowful Mother, to comfort & assist all the faithful souls", was erected (1448) by the penitentiary, Johannes Goldener of Nuremberg, later titular Bishop of Accon & auxiliary bishop of Bamberg.[20]
This confraternity was, in 1579, then raised by Gregory XIII to an archconfraternity, enriched with new indulgences, & empowered to aggregate other confraternities throughout world.[21] Although it has undergone many changes, this confraternity still exists, joining at end of 19th century with a special Requiem Mass Association for assisting souls of deceased members,[22] & it is first purgatorial society according to present meaning of the name.
The 15th to 18th century
Founded in 1488, Black Penitents, who marched in procession through Rome under gonfalone of mercy,[vague] aimed to assist, before execution, those condemned to death, & afterwards to provide for their burial, exequies, & Requiem Mass.[23]The Confraternity of Our Lady of Suffrage (Santa Maria del Suffragio) existed in Rome from 1592, expressly for relief of poor souls. It has numerous members, & since 1615 has added other confraternities with same object.[24] The Archconfraternity of Death & Prayer (mortis et orationis), founded at Santa Maria dell’Orazione e Morte in Rome in 1538, to provide for burial of the poor & abandoned, still exists[25]
About 1687 the rules for a special confraternity "for the relief of the Most Needy Souls in Purgatory" were approved in Rome under sacred names of Jesus, Mary & Joseph.[26] The confraternity of Jesus Christ on Mount Calvary & the Sorrowful Mother sponsored processions of the Way of the Cross in the Roman Colosseum & enjoyed special popularity (this confraternity was inaugurated Sept 8, 1760, among its illustrious members was St. Leonard of Port Maurice[27]).
In 1726, local Franciscans formed the Ingolstadt Mass Association, that aimed to procure for all members the grace of a happy death & for those already deceased speedy assistance & liberation from the pains of purgatory. In 1874, it became a formal confraternity under title of the Immaculate Conception.
A highly venerated painting of the Virgin was adopted as the titular picture, & it received all the indulgences of the confraternity of same name in Ara Coeli at Rome (these being the indulgences of the Blue Scapular[28]).
By early 20th century it had tens of thousands of members; almost 2000 Masses were daily celebrated for intentions of the Marian Mass Association, which aimed to particularly assist the most recently deceased members, however in later parts of 20th century this confraternity has faded into obscurity.
After 1800s
At close of the Middle Ages, the old confraternities which were generally confined to a town or small district, gradually disappeared or preserved only a semblance of continuation. By 19th century they were replaced by vigorous new associations, which, richly endowed with indulgences by ecclesiastical authorities, rapidly extended to entire Church. In 1818, Pius VII endowed Archconfraternity of Our Mother of Sorrows & the Poor Souls in Purgatory,[29] housed in Santa Maria in Trastevere, with rich indulgences.[30]The largest of later confraternities is the Archconfraternity for the Relief of the Poor Souls in Purgatory under the title of the Assumption of Mary (founded 1841) in the Redemptorist church of Santa Maria in Monterone at Rome.
It expanded rapidly to England & North America, & was endowed with indulgences in 1841-63. Priests empowered to receive the faithful into the confraternity enjoy various other faculties. This confraternity is especially adapted for rapid expansion, because in 1860 it was authorized to aggregate every confraternity of whatever name & object & to communicate to them its graces & privileges, provide they added to their original titles "and for the relief of the Poor Souls in Purgatory"; they must not, however, be already aggregated to another archconfraternity, nor have been endowed with indulgences on their own account.[31] The Redemptorist Fathers still conduct this archconfraternity which is now known as the "Purgatorian Archconfraternity".[32]
At Nîmes, a confraternity similar to that of Our Lady of Suffrage was established in 1857, received faculty of aggregating other confraternities in Diocese in 1858, & in 1873 received same right for world. In addition to indulgences of Roman confraternity, that of Nîmes has received others: recital of Rosary of the Dead was approved especially for its members by Pius IX in 1873.[33]
In accordance with its ancient traditions, the Benedictine order formed a twofold Confraternity of the Poor Souls at Lambach, Austria. In 1877 Archconfraternity of the Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament under protection of St. Benedict for the Poor Souls in Purgatory was erected with right to aggregate other confraternities of same name & object in Austrohungaria.
In 1893, this confraternity was erected in abbey church of St. John the Baptist in Collegeville, Minnesota; it shares in all indulgences of Lambach confraternity, & possesses, as archconfraternity of North America, faculty of aggregating all confraternities of same name & communicating to them its indulgences.
Finally, by 1910, Pius X granted to Lambach Confraternity the right to aggregation for whole world,.[34] There was also founded, in 1878, in same abbey church of Lambach a Priest's Association under Protection of St. Benedict for the Relief of the Poor Souls in Purgatory.
This was approved and recommended by diocesan bishop, Franz Joseph Rudigier. Many other bishops, especially in North America, recommended it to their clergy. The direction of association was placed in hands of general director of Archconfraternity of Lambach, who entered members in a special register. The official organ for both was "Benediktusstimmen" published by Abbey of Emaus in Prague.[35]
A work of atonement to obtain liberation for the most needy & abandoned souls in purgatory by celebration of many Masses was founded in 1884 in parish of La Chapelle-Montligeon, France. Until 1893 this association was joined archconfraternity of S. Maria in Monterone, but by 1893 became an honorary archconfraternity and prima-primaria.[36]
This association had many million members & was blessed by the pope. To become a member, one must have one's name enrolled, & contribute 5 centimes annually for objects of association; persons who make a single contribution of 5 francs had a permanent share in all Masses celebrated for deceased. Seven Masses are said weekly for souls in purgatory, 3 monthly for deceased priests, & in addition many thousand Masses are offered annually.[37]
The Order of Cluny have always been conspicuous for their devotion to the poor souls. Since 998, St. Odilio, Abbott of Cluny, had All Soul's Day celebrated by his monks on 2 November, which day was gradually devoted by entire church to relief of the poor souls.
In memory of this fact, a new archconfraternity was erected at Cluny in parish of Our Lady. By Brief of 25 May 1898, Leo XIII granted this "Archconfraternity of Prayer for the Poor Souls in Purgatory" the indulgences of old Roman Confraternity of Prayer & Death (see above), & authorized it to aggregate similar confraternities throughout France & its colonies.[38]
The "Associazione del Scaro Cuore di Gesû in suffrago della Anime del Pugatorio" was canonically established in Rome (Lungotevere, Prati), in a church of Sacred Heart, & granted indulgences & privileges by Leo XIII (1903-5).
The director of this association, which includes non-residents of Rome in its membership, edits "Rivista mensile dell' Associazione".
Indulgences of confraternities are ever applicable to souls in purgatory, & privileges of altar for churches & for priests, who are members, may be used in favor of dead members or for all poor souls. The formation of "Catholic League for Constant Intercession for the Poor Souls in Purgatory" was proposed by certain pious citizens of Rome, approved by Leo XIII in last years of his reign, & enriched with indulgences.
The only requisite for membership is to recite thrice daily the prayer, "Requiem æternam dona eis Domine et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescant in pace. Amen", thereby gaining once daily an indulgence of 200 days.[39]
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To this blog, I will add more of these societies, confraternities etc. as I am able to research them.
