The canons and decrees of the Council of Trent celebrated under Paul III, Julius III, and Pius IV, Bishops of Rome / faithfully translated into English.

A Decree concerning Reformation.

The Proem.

THe said most Holy, Oecumenick, and General Synod of Trent, lawfully assem∣bled in the Spirit of Holiness, the Legates of the See Apostolick presiding therein, hath thought good for the Praise of Almighty God, and the Grace and Ornament of the Holy Church, that the following points in the business of Re∣formation be ordained and appointed.

CHAP. I.

BEcause all Suspicion of Covetousness ought to be far from the Ecclesiastical Order; the Bishops or other Collators of Orders, or their Ministers, may or shall not receive any thing upon any pretence whatsoever, for Collation of Orders, even for the Clerical Tonsure, Dimissories, Testimonials, nor for Seal, or any other matter or thing, though voluntarily offered. But the Notaries in those places only, where it is a laudable custom to receive any thing, for every such Letters, Di∣missory or Testimonial, may receive the tenth, part of a Crown; provided they have no Salary appointed and set for the exercise of such Office. Nor shall any emolument or profit, directly or indirectly, arise to the Bishop, from or out of the profits of the Notary for the Collations of the said Orders: For the Council decrees that they be altogether bound to perform their Offices Gratis; wholly interdicting and making void all contrary Taxes, Statutes and Customs, though time out of mind, of what places soever, which may be rather called Abuses and Corruptions, favouring Simoniacal Pravity: And whosoever shall otherwise act or do, as well the Givers as Receivers, do (ipso facto) incur, over and besides Divine Vengeance, those punishments and penalties which the Law inflicts upon such Offenders.

CHAP. II.

WHereas it becometh not those, who are admitted, into the holy Ministry, to the dishonour and disgrace of their Order, to beg or exercise any fordid Trade; and it is apparently found, that many are admitted into holy Orders in many places, without any particular Election or Choice, who pretend by various Arts and Fallacies, they have obtained an Ecclesiastical Benefice, or fit Powers and Faculties: This holy Synod ordains, that from henceforth no Secular Clerk, although otherwise sufficient, in respect of Manners, Knowledge, and Age, be promoted to holy Orders, except it doth first lawfully appear, that he hath an Ecclesiastical Benefice, that is able to afford him an honest Main∣tenance. Nor is he enabled to resign such Benefice, except a Declaration first

made of his promotion to the Title of that Benefice. Neither shall such resig∣nation be admitted, unless it be granted that he may be able to live hansomely elsewhere, or otherwise such Resignation made shall be null and of no effect. But those that have got a Patrimony or Pension, cannot after that be ordained, except whom the Bishop shall judge fit to be assumed, for the necessity or conve∣nience of his Churches; having in this also a diligent regard, that such Patri∣mony or Pension be truly and really by them obtained, and by such as be suffi∣cient to maintain them: And these may not henceforth be aliened, extinct, or renounced without the License of the Bishop; until they have gotten a suffi∣cient Ecclesiastical Benefice, or have elsewhere a competent Maintenance and Livelyhood; the penalties and punishments for such being renewed and in force.

CHAP. III.

WHereas Benefices are appointed and set apart for Divine Worship, and the performing Ecclesiastical Duties; that the said Divine Worship may not in any respect be lessened, but a due observation and attendance paid there∣to; this holy Synod ordains and appoints, That in Cathedral and Collegiate Churches, in which there are no daily Distributions, or so small as are not to be taken notice of; the third parts of the Profits, Revenues and Incomes, as well Dignities, as Prebends, Parsonages, Portions and Offices shall be set apart and converted into daily distributions, which shall be proportionably divided among dignified persons, and others interested in holy things, according to the division to be made by the Bishops (as delegated thereunto by the Apostolical See) in the said first deduction of profits. The customs nevertheless of those Churches excepted in which those that are Non-residents, or serve not, do receive little or nothing of the Thirds: Notwithstanding any exemptions or other customs, though time out of mind, and appeals whatsoever. And if any contumacy or disobedience arises among those that do not officiate or serve, let them be pro∣ceeded against according to the provision of the Law, and disposition of the holy Canons.

CHAP. IV.

BIshops, as Delegates of the Apostolical See, in all Parochial or Baptismal Churches, in which the number of people is so great, that one Rector is not sufficient to administer the Sacraments of the Church, and perform Divine Worship, may compell the Rectors, or others to whom it appertain, to joyn to themselves as many Priests for this Duty, as are sufficient to exhibit the Sacra∣ments, and perform Divine Worship. But in those Parishes, wherein by reason of the distance or difficulty of places, the Parishioners cannot without great inconveni∣ence come to receive the Sacraments, and hear Divine Services, they may consti∣tute and appoint new Parishes, without consent of the Rectors, pursuant to the

form of the constitution of Alexander III. which begins, Ad Audientiam. And unto such Priests, as shall be set over those Churches so newly erected, a com∣petent Portion shall be assigned, according to the Bishops pleasure, out of the profits in any wise belonging to the Mother Church; and if need require, shall compell the people to contribute what shall be sufficient for the maintenance of the said Priests; any special or general Reservation or Affection towards the said Church, to the contrary notwithstanding: Nor may such like Ordinations or Erections be taken away or hindred, for or by reason of any Provisions, though by virtue of a Resignation, or any Derogations or Suspensions whatsoever.

CHAP. V.

THat the State also of those Churches, wherein holy duties to God are administred, may be maintained and preserved according to their Dignity; the Bishops may as Delegates of the Apostolical See, according to the due form of Law, without the prejudice nevertheless of the Occupiers of them, make perpetual Unions of a Parochial and Baptismal Churches, and other Benefices whatsoever, with cure or without, by reason of their Poverty and other juri∣dical causes; although the said Churches or Benefices be generally or specially reserved, or otherwise affected: Which Unions may not be revoked, or in any wise infringed by vertue of any Provision soever; or in case of any Resignation, Derogation or Suspension.

CHAP. VI.

BEcause the illiterate and unlearned Rectors of Parish Churches are not fit for holy Duties, and by reason of their turpitude and baseness of living do rather destroy then edifie others; the Bishops as Delegates of the Apostolick See, may depute Co-adjutors, or Vicars pro tempore, to the said unlearned and unskilful Rectors, if otherwise they be of unblameable and honest life, and to assign or otherwise provide them a part of the profits for their sufficient maintenance: any appellation or exemption in any wise notwithstanding. But for such Bishops who live shamefully and scandalously, after they have admonished, restrained, and chastised them, and do yet still remain incorrigible in their wickedness, the said Bishops are and shall be impowered to deprive them of their Benefices, according to the Constitutions of the holy Canons, without regard to any exemption or appeal whatsoever.

CHAP. VII.

WHereas especial care is to be taken, that those things which have been dedicated to the holy Ministry, may not by the injury of time grow out of use, and fall out of the memory of Men; the Bishops, as Delegates of the Apostolical See, may transfer simple Benefices, although in Patronage, from

those Churches which through Age, or otherwise are fallen into ruine, and can∣not by reason of their Poverty be restored, and call and invite those who are concerned, unto the Mother or other Churches of the same, or neighbouring places; and in the said Churches may erect Altars or Chappels, under the same Invocations, and transfer unto such Altars and Chappels so erected all those Emo∣luments, Advantages, and Charges, imposed on the former Churches. And let them cause those Parish Churches, although held in Patronage, that are fallen down, to be repaired and rebuilt, out of what profits and revenues soever do in any wise belong to the said Churches, or upon their default the Parishioners, to contribute to the premises: Notwithstanding any Appeal, Exemption or Con∣tradiction to the contrary. But if they labour under too great a Poverty; let them be transferred over to the Mother or other neighbouring Churches, with power to convert and joyn as well the said Parish, as other ruinous Churches to their uses, now pulled down for irreligious and sordid purposes, a Cross being nevertheless there set up.

CHAP. VIII.

IT is meet and convenient, that whatever things belong to the worship of God, in a Diocess, be diligently provided and carefully lookt after by the Ordinary, when his duty requires him. Therefore those Monasteries held in Commenda, though called by the name of Abbeys and Priories, wherein a regular observance is not kept; also Benefices with cure, or without, Secular and Re∣gular, howsoever in Commenda, and though exempt, shall yearly and every year be visited by the Bishops, as the Prelates of the Apostolical See; and the said Bishops shall take care by proper and agreeable Remedies, even by sequestra∣tion of Profits and Revenues, that what things soever shall need Renovation, or Restoration, may be renewed and restored; and that the care of Souls, if any depend upon them, or annexed to them, and other incumbent Duties be duly and faithfully exercised; notwithstanding any Appeals, Priviledges, Customs, Prescripts, even time out of mind, conservatory Deputations of Judges, and their Inhibitions. And if a Regular observance be used in them, the Bishops shall take care by their fatherly Admonitions, that the Superiors of such Regulars do observe and cause to be observed a due manner of Life according to their Regular Institutions, and that they keep and rule them in subjection to them in their duty. But if upon such advise and admonition, they shall not within six months, visit or correct them; then the said Bishops, as Delegates of the Apostolick See, may visit and correct them; as freely as the said Superiors may do themselves, according to their Institutions. Notwithstanding and totally annulling any Appeals, Privi∣ledges and Exemptions to the contrary whatsoever.

CHAP. IX.

WHereas many Remedies by many Councils heretofore used as well by the Lateran Council and of Lyons, as that of Vienna, against the wicked abuses

of Receivers of Alms-deeds, have in these later times been rendred useless and of no effect; but rather that their Lewdness and dishonest Dealing, and the com∣plaint thereof do daily so increase to the great scandal of all the Faithful, that no farther hope seems to remain of their Amendment: It is ordained and appointed, that from henceforth their name and use be utterly abolished and taken away, in all places of the Christian Religion whatsoever; nor shall any be admitted in any wise unto the exercise of such like office; notwithstanding any priviledges granted to any Churches, Monasteries, Hospitals, Holy Places, and to any persons of what Decree, State and Dignity they be, or any Customs, though time out of mind. However it decrees, that Indulgences, or other spiritual Graces, of which Christs faithful servants ought not to be deprived, be henceforth published to the people at due times, by the Ordinaries of places, having two of the Chap∣ter assisting therein. To whom also power is given and granted to Collect the Alms, and the Charitable Help and Relief to them offered, without any reward whatever; that at last all men may rightly understand, that those Heavenly Trea∣sures of the Church are not exercised or employed for Lucre, but Godliness sake.