Page:Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent Buckley.djvu/230

198 CHAPTER XII.

Whereas dignities in churches, especially in cathedral ones, were established to preserve and increase ecclesiastical discipline, to the end that those who should obtain them, might be pre-eminent in piety, and be an example to others, and aid the bishop by their exertions and services; it is but reasonable, that those who are called unto those dignities, should be such as to be able to answer the purposes of their office. No one, therefore, shall henceforth be promoted to any dignities soever, to which the cure of souls is attached, unless he have attained at least to the twenty-fifth year of his age, and, having been practised for some time in the clerical order, is recommended by the learning necessary for the discharge of his office, and by integrity of morals, according to the constitution of Alexander III., promulgated in the Council of Lateran, which begins, Quum in cunctis.

Archdeacons also, who are called the eyes of the bishop, shall, in all churches, where it is possible, be masters in theology, or doctors or licentiates in canon law. But, to the other dignities or personates, to which no cure of souls is attached, clerks shall be taken in, who are in other respects competent, and who are not less than twenty-two years of age. Those also who are promoted to any benefices whatsoever having cure of souls, shall, within two mouths at latest from the day of obtaining possession, be bound to make public profession of their orthodox faith in the presence of the bishop himself, or, if he be hindered, before his vicar-general, or official; and shall promise and swear that they will continue in obedience to the Roman Church. But those who are promoted to canonries and dignities in cathedral churches, shall be bound to do the same not only before the bishop, or his official, but also in the chapter; otherwise all those promoted as aforesaid shall not render the fruits their own; nor shall possession avail them. Nor shall they henceforth receive any one to a dignity, canonry,