superfetate

i. [Lat. super fet at us, pa. par. of superfeto; super =above, after, and feto =to breed.] To conceive after a prior conception. "The female brings forth twice in one month, and so is said to superfetate , which, saith Aristotle, is because her eggs are hatched in her one after another."-Grew: Museum . prehensible union and bond of charity which is between them, redound nece arily unto the profit, edifying, and increase in Christ's Body of all other members particularly." The Council of Trent decreed nothing on the subject, but the language of the Tri dentine Catechism (pt. i., ch. x., q. 23) is in accord with that quoted above. At the time of the Reformation the sale of indulgences had brought discredit on the doctrine of supererogation, or, "as it might more properly be called, the communion of saints in good works, and Article XIV. was directed against the popular belief. ( Blunt .) (2) Works of supererogation . Church Hist.: A controversial phrase borrowed from Article XIV. of the Church of England, and there defined as "voluntary works, besides, over, and above God's Commandments." In this sense the expre ion is used chiefly of the Counsels of perfection - Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience which, according to Roman theologians, though not universally nece ary to salvation, are yet nece ary, and become absolute precepts, in the case of those called to such states of life.