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.

Concerning Regulars, and Monks.

The said most Holy Synod, prosecuting the business of the Reforma∣tion, hath thought fit to Decree these following things.

CHAP. I.

BEcause the Holy Synod is not ignorant, how great splendor and advantage doth accrue to the Church, from Monasteries piously founded, and rightly governed; it hath thought (necessary for the more easie, and sooner restoring the ancient and Regular Discipline, where it is fallen and difused, and for its constant preservation and continuance, where it is kept up) to command, as by this present Decree it doth command, That all Regulars, as well Men, as Wo∣men, do order and compose their Lives according to the Rules of their Profession, and that especially they faithfully observe those things, which regard the Perfecti∣on of their Profession, as Obedience, Poverty, and Chastity, and the other pecu∣liar

Vows and Precepts of any Rule and Order respectively belonging to their Essence, and their common Food and Apparel. All care likewise and diligence shall be used by Superiors, as well in the General and Provincial Chapters, as in their Visitations, which they may not omit to make in their proper Seasons, that they do not recede from these things: Seeing it is manifest, that they cannot discharge and release the performing those things, which belong to the substance of a Regular Life. For if those things, which are the Bases and Foundation of all Regular Discipline, be not exactly, kept up and observed, the whole building must of necessity totter and fall to Ruine.

CHAP. II.

IT shall not be lawful for any Regulars, either Men or Women, to hold or possess Goods, moveable, or immoveable as their own, or in the name of the Convent, of what quality soever they, or in what manner soever by them gotten: But the same shall be delivered to the Superior, and be incorporated into the Con∣vent. Nor shall it hereafter be lawful for Superiors to grant immoveable goods to any Regular, so much as for use, Government or Commendam. But the Admi∣nistration of the Goods of Monasteries, or Convents, shall belong only to their Officials; to be removed at the pleasure of the Superiors. And Superiors shall so far permit the use of Moveables, that their houshould-stuff shall be agreeable and suitable to that state of Poverty which they profess; there shall be no superfluity in it, nor any thing denied them that is necessary. But if any one shall be found or convicted that they possess any thing otherwise than is here limited; he shall be deprived for two years of his Active and Passive Voice, and also punished according to the Eonstitutions of his Rule and Order.

CHAP. III.

THe holy Synod granteth to all Monasteries and Houses, as well of Men, as Women, though Mendicants, except the Houses of Capuchins of the Order of St. Francis, and of the Minor Observants; as also to those to whom it hath been prohibited by their own constitutions; or not granted them by any Apo∣stolical priviledge, that hereafter it shall be lawful for them to possess immoveable goods. But if any places shall be spoiled and robbed by the aforesaid persons, to whom it has been permitted by the Apostolical Authority to possess such like Goods; the said Synod Decrees, that the same be wholly restored to them. And in the aforesaid Monasteries and Houses, as well of Men as Women, possessing or not possessing any moveable Goods, such a number only shall be appointed, and hereafter established and kept, as may be handsomely maintained either out of the proper Rents of the Monasteries, or the usual Alms; nor shall such like places be hereafter built, without the License of the Bishop, in whose Diocess they are to be erected, first had and obtained.

CHAP. IV.

THe Holy Synod forbids, that no Regular, without the License of his Su∣perior, upon pretence of Preaching, Reading, or any other pious work, put himself into the service of any Prelate, Prince, University or Society, or of any other person or place whatsoever; nor shall any priviledge or power, obtain∣ed by others in the like cases, be allowed and granted to him. And if he shall do contrary hereunto, he shall be punished, as a disobedient and refractory person, at the pleasure of his Superior. Nor shall it be lawful for Regulars to depart from their Convents, even upon pretence of going to their Superiors, except they shall be sent for or called to them. And whoever shall be found without the aforesaid Man∣date had in writing, such persons shall be punished by the Ordinaries of the places, as Desertors of their Order. And those persons, who are sent to Univer∣sities to study, shall dwell in Convents only; otherwise they shall be proceeded against by the Ordinaries.

CHAP. V.

THe holy Synod, renewing the Constitution of Boniface the Eighth, which begins, Periculoso, commands all Bishops upon pain of the Divine Judg∣ment, and the Eternal Curse, That in all Monasteries that are subject to them, they take care by vertue of their own Authority, but in others by that of the Apostolick See, to restore the Enclosures of the Nuns, where they are violated, and to pre∣serve them where they are inviolated; restraining and correcting all diso∣bedient and gain-saying persons, by Ecclesiastical Censures, or other pu∣nishments, without any appeal whatsoever; calling likewise to their assistance the secular power, if need be. To which end the holy Synod exhorteth all Christian Princes, and enjoyns all Secular Magistrates, upon pain of Excom∣munication, (ipso facto) to be incurred, to aid and assist them. It shall not be lawful for any Nun to go out of the Monastery, after profession, though it be for a short time, upon any pretence whatsoever, except for some lawful Cause approved of by the Bishop; notwithstanding any Indulgences or Priviledges whatsoever. Nor shall any person enter within the Enclosures of the Monastery, what Quality, Condition, Sex or Age whatsoever, upon pain of Excommunica∣tion, to be (ipso facto) incurred, without the License of the Bishop or Superior, in writing had and obtained. And the Bishop or Superior ought only to give License in necessary Cases, nor may in any wise do it in any other respects, even by vertue of any other Power or Indulgence hitherto granted, or hereafter to be granted. And because the Cloisters of Nuns, Founded without the Walls of Cities or Towns, are exposed to the Prey and Robbery of wicked men, and other evil outrages oftentimes, without any guard; the Bishops and other Supe∣riours shall take care, if it be thought expedient, that the Nuns be brought from those, to the new or ancient Monasteries that are within the Cities, and Towns frequented and resorted to; calling also the Secular Power, if need so require, to their assistance herein. And the said Bishops may compell and force such

persons as shall impede and hinder them in so doing, or are disobedient and re∣fractory, in due obedience, by Ecclesiastical Censures.

CHAP. VI.

IN the Election of any Superiors, temporal Abbots and other Officials, Gene∣rals and Abbesses, and other Governesses, that all things may be justly, and without any fraud performed: The Holy Synod doth especially and strictly com∣mand, That all the aforesaid Officers be, and ought to be, Elected by secret Scru∣tiny and Votes: Nor shall Provincials, Abbots, Priors, or any other Titulars whatsoever, be constituted for the making such Election, or to supply and fill up the Voices and suffrages of those that are absent. But if any one shall be Elected contrary to the constitution of this Decree, such Election shall be void; and that person, who shall suffer himself to be created a Provincial, Abbot or Prior for this effect, shall thenceforth be uncapable of any Religious Office; and the Powers granted to them in this behalf, shall (eo ipso) be reckoned as abroga∣ted; and if any other Faculties shall for the future be granted, they shall be esteemed and lookt upon as Surreptitious.

CHAP. VII.

NO Abbess, Prioress, or by what other Name she be called, whether Go∣verness, or Superioress, shall be chosen under the Age of Forty years, and who hath led a laudable and commendable Life for the space of Eight years after Profession made. But if any such be not to be found endowed with these Qualifications in the one and the same Monastery; she may be elected out of another of the same Order. And if this also shall seem an Inconvenience to the Superiour, who is to oversee the Election; then one of those of the same Mo∣nastery not above the Age of Thirty years, and five years professed, shall be elected, with the consent of the Bishop, or of some other Superiour. But no Woman shall have superiority over two Monasteries. And if any Woman shall in any wise obtain two or more, she shall be forced to hold but one, and resign the rest within six months. After which time so limited, except she shall have resigned, all the said Monasteries shall (ipso jure) be vacant. And he that oversees the Election, whether the Bishop, or other Superiour, shall not enter within the Gates of the Monastery, but shall hear and receive the Votes of each and every of the Nuns, at the little Holes, or Windows of their Grates. In other things, the respective Constitutions of every Order and Monastery shall be kept and observed.

CHAP. VIII.

THose Monasteries, which are not subject to General Chapters, or Bishops, nor have their ordinary Regular Visitors, but have been usually governed under the immediate protection and direction of the Apostolick See, shall be obli∣ged within one year after the ending of this present Council, and from thence∣forth

every three years, to reduce themselves into Congregations, according to the form of the Constitution of Innocent the Third, in a General Council made, which begins, In singulis: and therein to depute some certain Regular persons, who may consider of, and appoint the Manner and Order of erecting the afore∣said Congregations, and of the Ordinances to be observed and executed in them. But if they shall be negligent in these things, it may and shall be lawful for the Metropolitan, in whose Province the aforesaid Monasteries are, as a Delegate of the Apostolik See, to convoke and summons them together for the aforesaid Causes. And if within the Limits and Boundaries of one Province, there be not a sufficient number of such Monasteries for the erecting a Congregation, they shall make one Congregation out of the Monasteries of two or three Pro∣vinces. And the General Chapters of such Congregations so constituted, and the Presidents and Visitors by them Elected, shall have the same Authority over the Monasteries of their Congregations, and the Regulars residing in them, as other Presidents and Visitors have in their Orders; and they shall be obliged to visit often the Monasteries of their Congregation, and industriously indeavour their Reformation, and to observe those things which are decreed in the Holy Canons, and in this sacred Council. But if they shall not take care to execute these things, upon the instances of the Metropolitan, they shall be subjected to the power of the Bishops, in whose Diocesses the aforesaid places are situate, as Delegates of the Apostolick See.

CHAP. IX.

THE Monasteries of Nuns, immediately subject to the Apostolick See, tho they be called by the Name of the Chapters of St. Peter, or St. John, or otherwise howsoever, shall be governed by the Bishops, notwithstanding the claim of any other whatsoever. But those Monasteries which are governed by Deputies of General Chapters, or by any other Regulars, shall be left to conti∣nue under their Care and Custody.

CHAP. X.

BIshops, and other Superiors, of the Monasteries of Nuns, shall take a dili∣gent care, that the Nuns in their Constitutions be admonished, that once at least every month they make a Confession of their Sins; receive the most holy Eucharist; that thereby they may fortifie and guard themselves for the vanquish∣ing and subduing of all the Assaults of the Devil. And besides the ordinary Con∣fessor, one other extraordinary shall be given them by the Bishop, or other their Superiors twice or thrice a year, who ought to hear the Confessions of every one. And the holy Synod ordains, that the most holy Sacrament of the Body of Christ shall be kept in the publick Church, and not within the Choire, or Cloysters of the Monastery: Any Indulgence or Priviledge to the contrary not∣withstanding.

CHAP. XI.

IN Monasteries, or Houses, either of Men, or Women, which have the Cure of the Souls of Secular men, besides those, who are of the Family of such Monasteries or places, as well Regular as Secular persons, that exercise such Cure, shall be immediately subject, in those things which concern the said Cure, and the Administration of the Sacraments, unto the Jurisdiction, Visitation and Correction of the Bishop, in whose Diocess they are situated. Nor shall any be there deputed (though to be removed at pleasure) without the consent of the said Bishop, and a previous examination to be made by himself, or his Vicar; except the Monastery of Clugni, with its limits, as likewise those Monasteries or places wherein the Abbots, Generals or Heads of Orders have their principal usual Seat or Residence, and such other Monasteries or Houses, wherein the Abbots, or other Superiors of Regulars, have Episcopal and Temporal Jurisdict∣ion over the Parish-priests and Parishioners. Saving and reserving nevertheless the Right of those Bishops, who exercise a greater jurisdiction over the aforesaid places or persons.

CHAP. XII.

ALL Censures and Interdicts, not only such as are issued forth from the Apo∣stolick See, but also such as are promulged by the Ordinaries at the Com∣mand of their Bishop, shall be published and observ'd by the Regulars in their respective Churches. And those Festivals also which the said Bishop shall require to be kept in his Diocess, shall be duly observ'd by all the exempt, tho they be Regulars.

CHAP. XIII.

THe Bishop shall compose and determine all Controversies about Precedence, which to their great scandal do often arise between Ecclesiastical persons, both Secular and Regular, in their publick processions in Funeral obsequies, and in carrying the Umbrella which covers the Host, and such like occasions. After which determination of the Bishop there shall be no Appeal; any usage or custom to the contrary notwithstanding. And all exempted persons, as well Seculars as Regulars and all Monks whatsoever that shall be thereunto Summoned, shall be compelled to go to publick Processions; except those only who live always in a strict confinement to their Cloysters without the liberty of going forth.

CHAP. XIV.

A Regular, who residing in any Cloyster and Monastery, and not being sub∣ject to the Bishop, shall be guilty of any notorious offence out of the Cloy∣ter, to the scandal of the people, shall at the request of the Bishop, within such time as the Bishop shall limit and appoint, be severely punished by his Su∣perior, and of this his punishment the Bishop shall be certified: Otherwise the

Offender shall be put out of his place, and the Bishop shall punish him, as he thinks fit.

CHAP. XV.

IN all Religious Houses, either of Men or Women, no Profession shall be made by any person admitted into the said Houses, before the Age of sixteen years. Nor shall any be admitted to profess themselves of a particular Order, under a full years time of Probation or Tryal, after they have taken the Habit. All Pro∣fessions made before the age aforesaid, and without a years time of Probation, shall be judged void, and no obligation shall be thereby laid to the observance of any Rule of any Religious Order, nor shall it serve to any other purpose or effect whatsoever.

CHAP. XVI.

NO Renunciation or Obligation heretofore made (tho with an Oath, or in favour of any Religious cause or matter whatsoever) shall be of force, and binding, unless it were made with the License of the Bishop, or his Deputy, with∣in two months before the Profession; neither shall it be interpreted or understood to be of any validity unless the Profession immediately follow thereupon.

If it be made in any other manner, tho with the express renouncing of this Fa∣vour or Priviledge, and that with an Oath, it shall be void and of no effect.

When the time of Probation is over, the Superiours shall admit the Novices whom he finds rightly qualified and fit for it, to the Profession, or else dismiss them from the Monastery. Notwithstanding by all this the Holy Synod doth not intend to alter, innovate, or any ways hinder the Religious of the Society of Jesus from serving God and his Church according to their own pious Constitu∣tions, which are approved and allow'd of by the Holy Apostolick See. But yet no Monastery shall, upon any pretence whatsoever, receive either from the Pa∣rents, Kindred or Guardians of any Novices, Men or Women, any of the goods or Estate of the said Novices, before their said Professing; except only necessary food and rayment for the time of their Probation; left upon this account the said Novices should afterwards be hindred from leaving the Monastery, that the said Monastery hath received the whole, or the greatest part of what they had to maintain them, and if they should go away, they cannot easily recover again what was paid to the said Monastery.

And the Holy Synod doth strictly forbid, upon pain of Excommunication, all persons whatsoever, either to give or to receive any thing otherwise than in manner aforesaid; and doth require, that whatsoever belongs to them be resto∣red to such as quit the Monastery before they have profess'd: All which, that it be duly observ'd, the Bishop, if need be, shall compel by Ecclesiastical cen∣sure.

CHAP. XVII.

THe Holy Synod having regard to the Liberty of Virgins, in professing and devo∣ting themselves to God, doth ordain and decree, That if a Virgin be desi∣rous to take upon her the habit of a Nun, she shall not do it till she be Twelve years old. Nor shall she or any other make Profession, before the Bishop, or if he be absent, or otherwise hindred, his Vicar, or some other, at their costs and charges appointed, hath strictly examined, whether she doth it voluntarily, or by constraint, or by Enticement and Perswasion of others, and whether she under∣stands what she is going to do. And if it be found, that 'tis her own free will and intention, and that she has all those Qualifications which the Rule of that Monastery and Order, into which she is, entring doth require; and if it be a place fit for her, it shall be lawful for her freely to profess. The time of whose Pro∣fessing shall by the Abbess be made known to the Bishop a month before-hand, and if the Abbess doth not certifie or give notice thereof to the Bishop, she shall be suspended by the Bishop for as long a time as he shall think fit.

CHAP. XVIII.

THe Holy Synod doth decree, That all those shall be liable to Excommunica∣tion, of whatsoever quality or condition they be, as well Clergy as Laity, Seculars or Regulars, however dignified or distinguished, who shall in any wise compel or force either a Virgin, Widow, or any other Woman whatever, to enter into a Monastery, or to take the Habit of any Religious Order, or to make Profession against their wills, unless in such cases as the Law allows of: and doth also Anathematize all such as shall advise, aid or favour such their unwilling Pro∣fession; or that knowing any Woman to have been forc'd into a Monastery, or to take the Habit and make Profession against her will, shall further and promote the same by their Presence, Consent, Authority, or any other way whatsoever.

And doth likewise Anathematize all those who shall without just cause, any ways hinder any holy Virgin, or other Woman, who hath a Desire to take upon her the Vail, and to make Profession. And all those things which were usually done before and at the time of Professing, shall be still observ'd, not only in Mo∣nasteries, subject to Bishops, but in all others whatsoever.

Nevertheless, those Women who are commonly called Poenitentes or Convertitae, shall be excepted out of the Decrees aforesaid, and the accustomed Orders con∣cerning them shall be henceforth observed.

CHAP. XIX.

WHatsoever Regular or Religious person shall pretend that he entred into his Order by Compulsion or through Fear, or shall affirm that he was not of full Age when he profess'd, or the like; or would lay aside his Habit upon any pretence whatsoever, or else go away with his Habit without the leave of his Superiour, let him not be hearkned to, nor his Desire granted, unless it be sig∣nified

within five years after the first day of his Professing; and not then neither, unless he declare his Reasons before his Superiour. But if he lay as••le his Habit his own accord, before he hath obtained leave for so doing, let him by no means be admitted to alledge the Cause or Reason of his doing it, whatsoever it be; but let him be compell'd to return to his Monastery, and be punish'd as an A∣postate, and in the mean time let him have no Benefit of any Priviledge granted to his Order.

No Regular shall, by vertue of any Faculty or Grant whatsoever, forsake his own Order, to enter into another that is easier to be observ'd. Nor shall any have leave to wear the Habit of their Order secretly, or conceal'd.

CHAP. XX.

ABbots which are the Heads of Orders, and other Superiours of the said Or∣ders, not subject to Bishops, having a lawful Jurisdiction over other Inferi∣our Monasteries and Priories, shall according to their Office visit the said Mona∣steries and Priories that are subject to them, every one in their Place and Order, altho the same be held but in Commendam. Those that are subject to the Heads of the several Orders, the Holy Synod declares not to be comprehended in those Decrees, which are elsewhere made concerning the visiting of Monasteries held in Commendam. And whosever are the Governours of the Monasteries, belong∣ing to the aforesaid Orders, shall receive the said Visitors, and observe their Orders.

And those very Monasteries, which are the Heads of those Orders, shall be visited according to the Constitutions of the Holy Apostolical See, and every particular Order. And as long as those Commendams do continue, the Priors of the Cloysters that have Chapters, the Sub-priors, who exercise Spiritual autho∣rity, and are to correct Offenders, shall be appointed by the General Chapters, or the Visitors of their Orders: In all other things, the Priviledges and Grants that have been conferr'd upon the Orders aforesaid, either relating to their Persons, their Houses, or their Constitutions and Laws made by themselves, shall be Rati∣fied and confirm'd, without any Diminution or Alteration.

CHAP. XXI.

WHereas many Monasteries, Abbeys, Priories, and Provostships, through the ill government of those to whom they have been committed, have sustained great losses and damages both in their spiritual and temporal Concerns; The Holy Synod doth earnestly desire to reduce them to such Discipline, as doth become a Monastical life. But the condition of the present time, is so bad, that it is a very difficult matter to effect it, and almost impossible to apply those re∣medies to all persons, and in all places, which are necessary to accomplish the Reformation so much desir'd. However, that we may omit nothing that can be done on our part, and that better provision may be made for the future against the aforesaid Evils, First we hope his Holiness will out of his own Piety and Prudence take care (so far as the times will permit) that there be plac'd oversuch

Religious Houses as are held in Commendam, and have Chapters of their own, Re∣gulars to govern them, who have themselves made profession of the same Order that the several Houses are of, that so they may give good example to such as are under their Charge. And that all Vacancies in time to come may be sup∣plied with Regulars of approved Virtue and Holyness.

As for those Monasteries which are called the Heads and Chief of the Orders, whether Abbeys or Priories, the Daughters of those Heads, they who at present hold them in Commendams (unless there be some Regular person provided to suc∣ceed them) shall be obliged within Six Months next ensuing, solemnly to Pro∣fess themselves of those Orders which the Houses they hold are of, or else quit their places; Otherwise the said Commendams shall be adjudged lawfully vacant.

And lest any fraud should be used in all or any of the Decrees before mentio∣ned, the Holy Synod doth command, That in making Provision for the said Mo∣nasteries the Quality of every Governour shall be named and expresly set down, and any Provision made to the contrary, shall be accounted Surreptitious, and no Possession thereupon given, though of Three years continuance, shall be of force to confirm and make good the said Provision.

CHAP. XXII.

THe Holy Synod doth Command, that all and every thing contained in the former Decrees, shall be observ'd in all Covents, Monasteries, Colledges, and Houses of Monks of all sorts, and of Regulars, and also of all Holy Virgins and Widows whatsoever, although they live under the Protection of the Knights of Hierusalem, or by what name soever they be called, or under what Rule or Constitutions they be, and under the Custody or Government, or any kind of subjection, or annexing, or dependence of any Order of Mendicants, or not Mendicants; or of other Regular Monks or Canons whatsoever; all or any of their Priviledges, under what form of words soever they be granted, and called the great Sea, yea though obtained at the Foundation; and also all Constitutions and Rules though Sworn to be observ'd, and likewise all Customs or Prescrip∣tions, though continued time out of mind, to the contrary notwithstanding.

But if there be any Regulars either Men or Women, who live under a stricter Rule or Statutes (except the power of having goods settled in common) the Holy Synod doth not hereby intend, to remove or hinder them from the observing their own order and manner of Living. And because the Holy Sy∣nod is very desirous, that all and singular the premises should be spedily put in Execution, it doth strictly charge and require all Bishops to take care, that they be forthwith observ'd in all Monasteries subject to them, and in all others, that are particularly committed to their Care by the Decrees above mentioned, and in all Abbeys, and by Generals and all other Superiors of the Orders aforesaid; and if any thing be not put in execution, the Provincial Councils must perform what is left undone through the negligence of the Bishops, and prevent such neglect for the future: And the Provincial and General Chapters or Assemblies of the Regulars; and for want of a General Assembly, the Provincial Councils by a Deputation granted to some of the same Order, shall provide against it.

And the Holy Council doth further exhort all Kings, Princes, Commonwealths, and Magistrates, and by virtue of that obedience which they owe to the Holy See, doth command them, to interpose their Assistance and Authority with the aforesaid Bishops, Abbots, and Generals, and all Governours in the putting in execution of the aforementioned Reformation, that without any hindrance or delay, the Premises may be rightly executed, to the Praise and Glory of Almighty God.