Category:Consistory

Con*sis"to*ry ( or ; 277) n.; pl. Consistories. Etym: [L. consistorium a place of assembly, the place where the emperor's council met, fr. consistere: cf. F. consistoire, It. consistorio. See Consist.]

1. Primarily, a place of standing or staying together; hence, any solemn assembly or council. To council summons all his mighty peers, Within thick clouds and dark tenfold involved, A gloomy consistory. Milton.

2. (Eng. Ch.)

Defn: The spiritual court of a diocesan bishop held before his chancellor or commissioner in his cathedral church or elsewhere. Hook.

3. (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: An assembly of prelates; a session of the college of cardinals at Rome. Pius was then hearing of causes in consistory. Bacon.

4. A church tribunal or governing body.

Note: In some churches, as the Dutch Reformed in America, a consistory is composed of the minister and elders of an individual church, corresponding to a Presbyterian church session, and in others, as the Reformed church in France, it is composed of ministers and elders, corresponding to a presbytery. In some Lutheran countries it is a body of clerical and lay officers appointed by the sovereign to superintend ecclesiastical affairs.

5. A civil court of justice. [Obs.] Chaucer.

consistory Con*sis"to*ry, a.

Defn: Of the nature of, or pertaining to, a consistory. "To hold consistory session." Strype.