Our present Holy Father, Pius X, has lately brought about a long desired reform in the central government of the Church. The competency of many of the Roman Congregations has been more clearly defined, and several of those originally instituted have been either suppressed or united with others. The Congregation of the Index has received a wider sphere and greater power. While formerly it passed only on books in regard to which it was expressly appealed to, it has now become a regular vigilance committee for the whole Church. The Holy Father says: “For the future it shall be the province of this Sacred Congregation not only to examine diligently the books reported to it, to prohibit them, if this should seem well, and to concede dispensations; but also to officially investigate in the best available way whether writings of any kind that should be condemned are being circulated; and to remind the ordinaries how strictly they are bound to condemn pernicious writings and to denounce them to the Holy See.” On the relation of the Congregation of the Index to that of the _Sacrum Officium_ (Holy Office) the Pope says: “As the prohibition of books has very frequently the scope of defense of the Faith, which is also the object of the Congregation of the Holy Office, we decree that in future in all things relating to the prohibition of books, and in those alone, the Cardinals, Consultors and officers of both congregations, may communicate with one another, and that all of them shall be bound by the same secret.” The Roman Congregations are not infallible. But they represent the Pope in his highest capacity as shepherd of the entire flock of Christ. Therefore we owe them obedience. Their regulations and orders must find us even more willing to obey than those of our bishops and pastors, to whom only a small portion of Christ’s kingdom is entrusted. 8. The Method of Examination. Our confidence in the fairness of the verdicts of the S. Congregation of the Index will be much increased, if we acquaint ourselves with the method it follows in carrying out its arduous, odious and yet very important task. This method is practically the same for both the Holy Office and the Index. The usual procedure is based mainly on the regulations laid down in the Bull of Pope Benedict XIV, “Sollicita ac provida.” When a book is reported to the Index Congregation, the secretary first tries to ascertain whether it is worth examining. He also inquires by letter from bishops and other reliable persons about the advisability of a condemnation. Several consultors assist him in this preliminary investigation; but the Cardinal Prefect has to ratify their decision.