Page:Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent Buckley.djvu/258

226 CHAPTER XVII.

A Girl more than Twelve Years of Age who wishes to take the regular Habit shall be examined by the Ordinary and again before Profession.

The holy synod, considering the freedom of the profession on the part of virgins to be dedicated to God, ordains and decrees, that if a girl who desires to take the religious habit, be more than twelve years of age, she shall not take that habit, neither shall she herself, nor any other, at a later period, make her profession, until the bishop, or, if he be absent or hindered, his vicar, or some one deputed thereunto by them, and at their expense, has diligently examined into the inclination of the virgin, whether she has been, constrained or seduced thereunto, or knows what she is doing; and if her will be found pious and free, and she have the qualifications required by the rule of that monastery and order; and if also the monastery be a suitable one; it shall be free for her to make her profession. And lest the bishop be in ignorance as to the time of the said profession, the governess of the monastery shall be bound to give him notice thereof a month beforehand. And if the governess do not inform the bishop thereof, she shall be suspended from her office, for as long a time as shall seem fit to the bishop.

CHAPTER XVIII.

The holy synod subjects to anathema all and each those persons, of what quality or condition soever they may be, whether clerks or laymen, seculars or regulars, or sustaining what dignity soever, who shall, in any way soever, force any virgin, or widow, or any other woman soever, except in the cases laid down in law, to enter a monastery against her will, or to assume the habit of any religious order, or to declare her profession; as also all those who shall lend their counsel, aid, or favour thereunto; and those also who, knowing that she does not voluntarily enter into the monastery, or take the habit, or declare her profession, shall, in any way, interfere in that act, either by their presence, or