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The COUNCIL of VASIO.
THIS Council is much like the precedent, held at Vasio in 442. It made X Canons.
The I imports, that the French Bishops need not be examined before they be recei∣ved * 1.1 to the Communion, it is sufficient that it be not known they are excommunicated.
The II commands, that the Oblations of such Penitents, as dying suddenly could not receive the Sacraments of the Church; should be received and accepted, and their Memory ought to be celebrated at the Altar, since if they had lived, they ought not to be kept from the Eucharist.
The III orders, that the Priests or Ministers should every Year desire the Chrism of their own Bishop about the Feast of Easter, and either go themselves to fetch it, or send their Sub-Deacon for it, [if necessary business will not permit them to go.]
The IV is, that they shall be expelled the Church as Infidels, who keep back those Legacies which dying Persons have bequeathed to the Church.
The V is, that if any Person doth not submit to the Sentence of his Bishop, he shall have relief, from a Synod.
In the VI it is proved by the Testimony of the first Letter to S. Clement, that Christians ought not to hold any familiar Correspondence with the Enemies of Religion.
The VII, to prevent too much rashness in condemning the Guilty, enjoyns the Bishops to be gentle, although they believe that a Person hath deserved to be separated from the Church for a time, and content themselves at the intreaty of others to reprove, and threaten him; and if they think any Person to deserve Condemnation for a great Crime, they ought to consider, that they should do it, as being their Accusers.
The VIII Canon imports, that if a Bishop knows the Crime of another, but cannot prove it, he ought not to divulge it, but only to endeavour by private reproof to amend him, whom he believes to be guilty. But if he prove obstinate, and will not reform, the Bishop may by his own Authority separate him from his Communion, although he continue in Communion with others that know not of it.
The IX and X Canons were made to prevent, that such Persons as have out of Charity taken upon them the care and charge of Foundlings, should not be deterred from so great a piece of Charity through fear of being proceeded against by Law, as it often happens, and being accused to have stolen them. The Council decreed according to the Law of Honorius, that they who find out-cast Children, should give notice of it to the Church; and that there may be no cheat about it, the Council adds, that it shall be published at the Altar on Sunday, that an out-cast Child is found, that if any Person shall own it within 10 Days, it shall be restored, but afterward such a Demand shall not be received, or allowed. I do not speak of the other Synod held under Hilary Bishop of Arles against Proclus and Chelidonius, because we have nothing more of them, than what is said in the Life of that Author.