Page:Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent Buckley.djvu/260

228 visit the said monasteries and priories subject to them, even though they be held in commendam, "Which, seeing they are subject to the heads of their own orders, the holy synod declares that they are not included in what has been elsewhere decreed touching the visitation of monasteries held in commendam; and those who preside over monasteries of the aforesaid orders shall be bound to receive the aforesaid visitors, and to execute their orders. Also, those monasteries themselves which are the heads of orders, shall be visited according to the constitutions of the holy Apostolic See, and of each respective order. And so long as such commendatory [monasteries] shall continue, there shall be appointed, by the general chapters, or by the visitors of the said orders, priors claustral, or superiors in those priories that have a convent, who may exercise spiritual authority and correction. In all other matters the privileges and faculties of the aforesaid orders, which concern the persons, places, and rights thereof, shall be firm and inviolate.

CHAPTER XXI.

Monasteries shall be conferred upon Regulars. The Headships of Religious Bodies shall be commended to no one in posterum.

Whereas very many monasteries, even abbeys, priories, and provostries, have suffered no light injuries, both in spiritual and temporal matters, through the mal-administration of those to whom they have been intrusted, the holy synod desires by every means to restore them to a discipline befitting a monastic life. But so hard and difficult is the present state of the times, that a remedy can neither be applied forthwith to all, nor common to all places, as it would desire. Nevertheless, that it may not omit anything by which wholesome provision may in time be made against the evils aforesaid, it trusts in the first place, that the most holy Roman Pontiff will, of his piety and prudence, take care, as far as he sees that the times will permit, that over those monasteries which are at present held in commendam, and which possess their own convents, there be appointed regulars, expressly professed of the same order, who are able to guide and govern the flock. And as to such as shall