to miracles was entirely dispensed with. The discussion as to martyrdoms and miracles, formerly held in three meetings or congregations, viz. the ante-preparatory, preparatory, and general, was at a later time usually conducted, through a dispensation to be had in each instance from the sovereign pontiff, in a single congregation known as particularis, or special. It consisted of six or seven cardinals of the Congregation of Rites and four or five prelates especially deputed by the pope. There was but one positio prepared in the usual way; if there was an affirmative majority a decree was issued concerning the proof of martyrdom, the cause of martyrdom, and miracles. (Constare de Martyrio, causâ Martyrii et signis.) The final stage was a discussion of the security (super tuto) with which advance to beatification might be made, as in the case of confessors; the solemn beatification then followed. Confirmation of Cult This procedure was followed in all cases of formal beatification in causes of both confessors and martyrs proposed in the ordinary way ("per viam non cultus"). Those proposed as coming under the definition of cases excepted ("casus excepti") by Pope Urban VIII were treated differently. In such cases proof is required that an immemorial public veneration had been paid to the servant of God, whether as a confessor or martyr, for at least 100 years before the promulgation in 1640 of the decrees of Pope Urban VIII. Such cause was proposed under the title of "confirmation of veneration" ("de confirmatione cultus"); it was considered in an ordinary meeting of the Congregation of Rites. When the difficulties of the Promotor of the Faith had been satisfied, a Pontifical decree confirming the cultus was promulgated. Beatification of this kind was denominated "equivalent" or "virtual". Canonization The canonization of confessors or martyrs might be taken up as soon as two miracles were reported to have been worked at their intercession, after the pontifical permission of public veneration as described above. At this stage it was only required that the two miracles worked after the permission awarding a public cultus be discussed in three meetings of the congregation. The discussion proceeded in the ordinary way; if the miracles were confirmed, another meeting (super tuto) was held. The pope then issued a Bull of Canonization in which he not only permitted, but commanded, the public cultus, or veneration, of the saint. It may be easily conjectured that