Page:Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent Buckley.djvu/200

168 which they shall be assigned, unless they chance to be absent on account of their studies; and may thus ascend from step to step: that so with their age their worthiness of life and greater learning may increase; of which they will give proof both by the example of their good conduct, by their assiduous ministry in the church, and their greater reverence towards priests and the superior orders, as well as by a more frequent communion than heretofore of the Body of Christ. And whereas from hence is the entrance unto higher grades and to the most sacred mysteries, no one shall be initiated therein, whom the promise of knowledge does not show to be worthy of the greater orders. And such shall not be promoted to sacred orders till a year after the reception of the last degree of minor orders; unless necessity, or the advantage of the Church, according to the bishop's judgment, shall require otherwise.

CHAPTER XII.

Age required for the Greater Orders; the Worthy only to be admitted.

No one shall for the future be promoted to the order of subdeaconship before his twenty-second year; to that of deaconship before his twenty-third; to that of priesthood before his twenty-fifth. Nevertheless, bishops are to know, that not all who have attained to that age must needs be admitted to these orders, but those only who are worthy, and whose approved life is an old age. Regulars likewise shall not be ordained under the above age, nor without a diligent examination by the bishop; all privileges soever in this regard being entirely set aside.

CHAPTER XIII.

On the Manner of Ordination of a Subdeacon and Deacon: on no one shall two Sacred Orders be conferred on the same day.

Such as possess a good testimonial, and have been already approved in minor orders, and are instructed in letters, and in those things which pertain to the exercise of their orders, shall be ordained subdeacons and deacons. They shall have