Praefatio is, in the mass, the prayer which imme- diately precedes the canon, an exhortation to thankful- ness, commencing with the words " Sursum corda." In the Gothic or Mozarabic liturgy the praefatio is called Lllatio ; in the Gallican, Imnwlatio and Coniestatio. It is also called Hymnus Angelicus. Originally there was but one praefatio for all da3's and feasts (Prcefatio Corn- munis') ; since the 12th century a number of proefationes, adapted to the variety of the feasts, the use of which is indicated by the Directory of the Church, have been in- troduced. Every praefatio ends with the triple "Sanc- tus," the introduction of which is attributed to Sixtus I. See Mass ; Prefaces.
Praef icae, a name foi the mourning-women of the ancients. They were hired to make lamentation at Ro- man funerals, and were so called because they generally preceded the funeral processions in order to lament and sing the praises of the deceased. The early Christians very earnestly condemned the imitation of this custom in their funerals. They deemed immoderate grief un- becoming the character and profession of a Christian whose conversation is in heaven, and whose hope and expectation was a crown of life that fadeth not away. Chrysostom inveighed with great indignation against the introduction of heathenish practices into the Chris- tian Church, and threatened those who should persist in the imitation of the funeral customs of the heathen with the highest ecclesiastical censures.
Praelati (i. e. preferred), in the larger sense of the word, is the name of all higher officers of the Church with whose functions is connected a jurisdiction in their own name— jure ordinario — i. e. a jurisdiction belong- ing essentially to the office, not conferred by a higher dignitary of the Church. In this meaning of the word we distinguish between praelati primigenii and secunda-
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rii. Tn a more restricted sense, prselati is the name given to the local superiors or directors of the congre- gations and abbeys ol many ecclesiastical orders, espe- cially to those who enjoy, either by privilege or tradi- tion, the right of wearing the pontifical ensigns.
Prmlati nullius diocest ot is the title of abbots or other liigh dignitaries who are nol amenable to the jurisdic- tion of the bishop, but enjoy themselves' juriadictionem cqpalem, which as a rule extends only to the ecclesiastics subordinated to them, nol to the laymen of their monastic district, except in cases where they may enjoy even such a spiritual jurisdiction in virtue ial indult, as in consequence ol prescription. See Pri lai e.
Praslector i.- the ecclesiastical term for the divinity- reader in some cathedrals. Sometimes he is attached to the prebend i q. v. I, and sometimes lie lectures, as on saints' days, in Lent, and other import an I Church sea- sons.— Walcott, Sacred Archaeology, s. v. See Lec- tor; l.'l VDEB,
Fraemonstrants. See Premonstr vti ssiaxs.
Praemunire is a term used in English canon law as well as British common law to designate a species of offence of the nature of a contempt of the ruling pow er, for which enactments were passed, and was so called from the mandatory words with which the writ direct- ing the citation of a party charged with the offence commences. The different statutes of praemunire were originally framed in order to restrain the encroachments of the papal power. They begin with the 27 Edward III. st. i. c. I, and continue from that period down to the reign ofHenry VIII, when the kingdom entirely re- nounced the authority of the Roman pontiffs. The ex- orbitant powers exercised by the pope in presenting to benefices and in other ecclesiastical matters, and the privileges claimed by the clergy, who resisted the au- thority of the king's courts, and recognised no jurisdic- tion but that of the court of Rome, rendered some enactments absolutely necessary to uphold the law of the country and the independence of the nation. This. then, is the original meaning of the offence termed praemunire— viz., introducing a foreign power into the land, and creating an imperium in imperio by paying that obedience to the papal process w hich constitution- ally belonged to the king al lis penalties have
been subsequently applied to other heinous offences, Mime of which hear more and some less relation to this original offence, and some no relation at all. as a chap- ter refusing to elect as bishop the person nominated by the sovereign, neglecting to take the oath of allegiance, transgressing tie- statute of habeas <■<>,/,„.< (by 6 Anne, c ;,. i he asserting by preaching, teaching, or advised- ly speaking that any person other than according to the Acts of Settlement and Union has any right to the British throne, or that the sovereign and parliament cannot make laws to limit the descent of the crown. The knowingly and wilfully solemnizing, assisting, or being present at any marriage forbidden by the Royal Marriage Ad is declared by 12 tieorue ill.,-, n. to
infer a praemunire. The penalties for the offence are no less than the follow ing, .'is shortly summed up hy >ir I'..
Coke il I nsi. p. 129): "That from the conviction the defendant shall he out ot the king's protection, and In- lands and tenements, goods and chattels, forfeited to the king, and that his body shall remain in prison during the king's pleasure, or (as others have in during life." The offender can bring no action nor recover damages for the most atrocious injuries, and no man can safelj give him comfort, aid. ..r r< lief. (See Baxter, Ch. Hist. p. 291; Hardwick, Hist, of thi Re/, p. 1*7. 361.) In \'t\ recent I mi dissenters have labored for the