Libris: Baptismorum, Matrimoniorum et Defunctorum: Locating and Deciphering Catholic Records from Around the Globe

Cecile Wendt Jensen, CG Michigan Polonia, LLC www.mipolonia.net Polonica Americana Research Institute www.polishmission.com 3535 Indian Trail, Orchard Lake, Michigan 48306 [email protected]

Locating and Deciphering Catholic Records from Around the Globe

Many researchers find their family line eventually leads to records maintained by the Roman Catholic Church. Missionaries and immigrants brought their religion from Europe to points around the globe. This presentation is a survey of the type of records kept by the church and keys to extracting data. Religious newspapers, jubilee books and parish histories are also covered.

In Europe, priests were required by civil law to duplicate the parish records and, in certain periods, to be the stewards of Jewish and Evangelical birth, marriage and death records. The Status Animarum aka the List of Souls was kept by the parish and enumerates parishioners by family. The records of ordained priests, mother superiors and religious brothers and sisters are a neglected but rich source of genealogical information. These religious organizations kept records of their schools and orphanages. This session will highlight the rules established by the church for sacramental records. Understanding the rubric is key to finding the information you seek. Translation guides and word lists make the extractions manageable for family historians. https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Latin_Genealogical_Word_List

The Seven Sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church Baptism Marriage Eucharist (Communion) Holy Orders (Priesthood) Reconciliation (Penance or Confession) Anointing of the Sick (Extreme Unction, Last Confirmation Rites)

The infant’s Baptism traditionally took place a few days after birth. The father, along with two witnesses would take the child to receive the sacrament. Naming patterns are both a religious and ethnic tradition. Sample naming patterns: French Canadian parents were limited in their choice of names: www.genealogie.umontreal.ca/en/nomsPrenoms.htm Polish Catholic naming patterns: www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~polwgw/naming.html German Catholic Naming patterns: www.kerchner.com/germname.htm Italian Catholic naming patterns: www.angelfire.com/ok3/pearlsofwisdom/italiannaming.htm Irish Catholic naming patterns: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/IRISH-AMERICAN/2008-09/1220645855 Spanish and other ethnicities naming patterns http://goo.gl/TeXjo Saints Names and Saint of the Day: http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/byname.aspx Saint of the Day iPhone app http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintofDay/iPhone-App/default.aspx

Sacramental records are kept for not only Baptism, but for First Communion, Confirmation and Marriage. It is common to find a studio portrait taken of the young recipients. First Communicants traditionally dress in white, and the girls wear veils. When confirmed, when a Catholic becoming an adult in the church, the clothing of choice reflects adulthood. Confirmation, a sacrament in given to those already baptized in order to make them strong and perfect Christians and soldiers of Jesus Christ. A sponsor of the same sex who is over fourteen and has also been confirmed is required, and an additional saint's name "Confirmation name" is usually chosen by the recipient (but not required), the sponsor is usually a family member.

The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick (Extreme Unction, Last Rites) is believed to have been instituted by Christ to give spiritual aid and comfort and perfect spiritual health, including, if need be, the remission of sins, and also, conditionally, to restore bodily health, to those who are seriously ill. While the administration of this sacrament is not recorded, the death and burial are. The document records that the body was buried in consecrated ground, and provides proof that the widow or widower is free to marry again. The entry includes the cause of death, and the day of death and the day of burial. Often, the parents, spouse, and the children of the deceased are listed. The funeral Mass takes place in the church and the blessing includes incensing the draped coffin. Prayers are again said at the cemetery- in the chapel or at graveside.

Funeral or memorial cards are created as an incentive to pray for the deceased. A family collection may sometimes be found in a family missal or prayer book. Included with the prayer is the name of the decedent, date of birth and death, and often, place of interment. An online collection is available at: http://www.genealogytoday.com/guide/funeral_cards.html