Per Viam

Per Viam a technical title of certain forms of ecclesiastical election.

1. PER VIAM COMPROMISSI (by way of conmpromise) was an election of a superior by the sworn delegates of a convent, who retired into a secret chamber, and, after invocation of the Holy Ghost, named the person on whom their choice had fallen.

2. PER VIAM SPIRITUS SANCTI (by way of the Holy Spirit) was a unanimous election by the whole convent, as if by divine inspiration.

3. PER VIAM SCRUTINII (by way of scrutiny) was when each monk voted singly in the chapter-house, in the presence of the bishop.