Greek and Latin

By Vijay Kumar

Advocatus Diaboli- Devil's Advocate

Contrary to popular belief the Devil’s advocate is not a bad fellow after all. His job is to ensure that the court comes to a correct conclusion. This is a popular title given to one of the most important officers of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, established in 1587, by the Pope to deal juridically with processes of beatification and canonization. His official title is Promoter of the Faith (Promotor Fidei). His duty requires him to prepare in writing all possible arguments, even at times seemingly slight, against the raising of any one to the honours of the altar. The interest and honour of the Church are concerned in preventing any one from receiving those honours whose death is not juridically proved to have been "precious in the sight of God" . Prospero Lamertini, afterwards Pope Benedict XIV (1740-58), was the Promoter of the Faith (would you refer to him as the Devil’s advocate?) for twenty years.