Entroduction.

ABOUT the commencement of the thirteenth century, the north of Italy and south of France were infested with a sect of fanatics, at once profligate and ignorant, who, despising all law and authority, lived for the most part on the plunder of the church and committed the most atrocious excesses against their inoffensive fellow-citizens. To arrest these outrages, and to defend the innocent, left, as they were, without any adequate protection, St. Dominick, unwearied by his incessant labours, induced multitudes in the various places which he traversed to associate themselves into a kind of military order, with the obligation of affording an armed aid to the civil authorities, in upholding the laws and punishing the transgressors. At the same time, the members, for their own sanctification, were to perform at stated periods certain acts of piety and of self-denial. Their wives were allowed to join the Order, on entering into a solemn engagement not to prevent their husbands from taking up arms, when called on by the proper authority. But, though bound to those observances, in other respects they lived like the rest of the laity, superintending their family concerns, and pursuing their worldly avocations.

In a few years from its formation, it was found that this Order, which was called the Militia of Jesus Christ, had so completely succeeded in the primary object for which it was instituted, that its

military services were no longer needed. It was then resolved that it should be changed into an Order of Penitents, subject to the regulations which will be found in the subsequent pages. As such, it has continued to the present day, some of its members living in community, and openly wearing the habit; others continuing with their families, and merely meeting the brethren at certain appointed times; but everywhere proving a source of great edification to the people, and of assistance and consolation to their Pastors. To this Order has the Church of God been indebted for many illustrious Saints: for St. Catharine of Sienna, St. Catharine of Ricci, St. Rose of Lima, the Blessed Albert of Bergamo, the Blessed Martin Porres, the Blessed Benvenuta Bojani, the Blessed Emilia Bicchieri, the Blessed Margaret of Savoy, the Blessed Stefana Quinzani, the Blessed Osanna of Mantua, the Blessed Margaret of Castello, the Blessed Lucy of Narni, the Blessed Colomba of Rieti, the Blessed Joanna of Orvieto, the Blessed Catharine of Raconigi, and the Blessed Maria Bartholomæa Bagnesi. This Order can also boast of counting in its ranks several royal personages, innumerable Priests and Prelates, and many distinguished scholars. The pious and learned Cardinal Acton is one of its present members; and there is at least another Cardinal, an Italian, belonging to it. In Ireland it is spread throughout the midland counties, and exists in several cities of the west, east, and south of this kingdom; and the Parish Priests invariably bear the highest testimony to the virtues and zeal which the Tercerians display, and

have in several instances declared, that they considered the existence of this body amongst the people placed under their spiritual jurisdiction, as one of the greatest blessings which God could have bestowed on them. May they thus continue diffusing around the odour of sanctity, opposing, by their example and their remonstrances, the spread of iniquity; rendering religion venerable in the eyes even of the wicked, by humility, meekness, and universal charity: acting, in a word, as becomes the disciples of a Dominick, and the brethren of a Catharine, a Rose, and a Martin.

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