A correspondent (S. P. H. T.) inquires, 1. Has there been any authorised
collection of Papal Bulls, Breves, Encyclical Letters, &c., published
since the beginning of the present century?
2. If not, has there been any authorised list of those addressed to the
Roman Catholic Church in England or Ireland?
3. What bulls have, during the last century, been published against
Bible Societies, &c., and where will I find _authorised_ copies of them,
more particularly those of Pope Pius VII., bearing date 29th June, 1816,
and directed to the Primate of Poland; that of 18th September, 1819,
against the circulation of the Scriptures in the Irish Schools; that of
Leo XII., dated 3rd May, 1824, directed to the Irish clergy, which last
is the latest I am acquainted with?
4. What authority is there for using the "Form of receiving Converts
from the Church of Rome," as published by the British Reformation
Society? Does it occur in _any_ edition of the Book of Common Prayer?
5. What authority is there for the occasional services of 5th November,
30th January, 29th May, and 20th June? Some of these are, I am aware,
specially directed by act of parliament; but the point upon which I wish
to obtain information is, what the precise amount of obligation is that
exists on the officiating minister to use or neglect the services in the
absence of any specific directions on the matter from his Ordinary?
6. What authority is there for the use of the Gloria immediately after
the minister's announcing the Gospel. No rubric _now_ appears to
recognise it?
7. At what period did the practice of playing "a voluntary" upon the
organ during the collection of the alms originate? And what is the
earliest record of the alms being collected after the communion service
and before the sermon, and not after the prayer for the Church Militant?