Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 17.djvu/577

 OBDEBS 5gl OBDEB8

domicile if the child is illegitimste or posthumous or and in territories subject to Propaganda by a title of

the place where a foundling has been discovert, or mission. but in these cases the candidate must swear

the place of birth in the case of the child of vagi. No to devote himself perpetually to the service of the

one may promote to higher orders a candidate who has diocese or mission, under the authority of the local

been ordained by the Pope, without the permission ordinary for the time being. In the United States the

of the Holy See; so also no one may consecrate a oath hais been modified to allow the cleric to pass to

bishop without Uie consent of the sovereign pontiff, another diocese in the same province. In these two

and even then he is to have two assistant bishops for cases the ordinary is bound to appoint the candidate

the ceremony unless a dispensation has been gnmted to some benefice or office, or give him an allowance

from Rome; finally a Latin bishop may not ordain a sufficient for his support. For regulars with solemn

person belonging to an Oriental Rito without an apos- profession the title is poverty; for religious with per-

tolic indult. petual simple vows it is the menaa communis; for other

The number of extraordinary ministers, on the religious it is as in the case of seculars. Secular can- other hand, has been increased. A regular abbot de didates for ordination and religious who are bound by regiminef even without territory nuUius, provided he the same regulations before being ordained must pro- is a priest and has lawfully received the abbatial bless- duce: (a) testimony of their last ordination or, if there ing, may confer tonsure and minor orders on all his is question of first tonsure, of their baptism and con- professed subjects. Unless under those conditions, if firmation; (b) testimony that they have completed the abbot is not a bishop, any orders conferred by him the required course of study; (c) testimony of the would be null and void, as any privilege to the con- rector of the seminary or of the priest to wnom the trary has now been withdrawn. Vicars and prefects aspirant was entrusted while outside the seminary, apostolic, and abbots and prelates nullius, if conse- concerning his moral character; (d) testimonial letters crated, are ordinary ministers like other bishops; from the ordinary of the place where the candidate if they have not been consecrated they can, when has lived for a time during which he might have in- within their own territory and during their tenure of curred a canonical impediment; (e) similar letters from office, confer tonsure and minor orders on their own a higher religious superior if the candidate is a re- subjecte and on all who have dimissorial letters from ligious. The time just referred to in (d) is usually their own superiors; except under these circumstances three months in the case of soldiers, and six months any orders conferred by them would be invalid. Fin- for others after attaining puberty, but the ordaining ally, cardinals who are not bishops may confer tonsure bishop may insist on having letters when the time was and minor orders on anv candidates who present them- shorter and even for the period before puber^ was selves with dimissorial letters from their own supe- reached. If the local ordinary has not sufficient riors. knowledge, either personal or through others, to tes-

SvbjecU. — The requirements of the Code regarding tify that no canonical impediment was incurred while

aspirants for Holy Orders mentioned here refer not to the candidate was in his territory, or if the candidate

the validity but to the liceity of ordinations. It is has lived in so many dioceses that it would be im*

advisable that aspirants to orders should live in a possible or very difficult to obtain all the requisite

seminary from a very early age; all must do so at least letters, the ordinary must obtain a supplementary

during their entire theological studies, unless the or- oath from the candidate. If after obtaining the letters

dinary conscientiously believes that there is grave but before ordination the candidate again remains the

cause for dispensing from the obligation in a special requisite time in a diocese he must procure fresh testi-

case; if thus oispensed the aspirant should be entrusted mony from the local ordinary. A religious superior

to the special care of a pious cafu^bie priest, but even must testify in his letters not only that his subject is

then his studies must be made in the seminary, not professed and a member of his house, but that he has

privately. First tonsure and orders are to be con- finished the studies and has the other qualifications

f erred only on those who intend to become priests and required by the canons. Candidates, both secular and

who give ffood hope of filling that office worthily, rehgious, are to be carefully examined conceniing the

The candidate for orders must have been confirmed, order they are about to receive^ and those intended

No one, whether secular or religious, may receive first for major orders are to be examined in theology; the

tonsure before beginning his theology; the subdiaoon- details of the examination are left to the bishop; but

ate may not be conferred before the end of the third even after the candidate has received the dimissorial

year's theology, nor the diaconate before commencing letters oertifyin^^ that his examination was satisfac-

the fourth year; the priesthood can be received only tory, the ordaining bishop has the ri^ht to hold an-

after the middle of that year. The intervals between other examination and reject the candidate if he finds

the reception of the different orders must be observed; him unsuited.

those between first tonsure and portership and be- The names of the candidates, excepting religious

tween each of the minor orders is left to the discretion with simple or solemn perpetual vows, must be an-

of the bishopj but one must be an acolyte one year nounced publicly in the candidates' parochial church,

before receiving the subdiaconate. and subdeaoons but the ordinary may dispense from this for just cause

and deaco \b must have exercised tneir respective or- and have the proclamation made in another church or

ders for three months before being promoted, unless, instead of the proclamation have the names posted

in the opinion of the bishop, the wants or interests of publicly on the church doors for a few days, one of

the church demand shorter intervals; however, ail which must be a day of precept. The proclamation

customs to the contrary being reprobated, it is never should be made on a day of precept during mass or on

lawful without special papal permission to confer another day and at another time when a great number

minor orders with the subdiaconate or two sacred of the faithful are attending church. If within six

orders on the same day; nor is it allowable to confer months the candidate has not been ordained the proc-

first tonsure with a nunor order, or all minor orders lamation must be renewed. The faithful must inform

at the same time. the parish priest or the ordinary if they know of any

Seculars must have a canonical title for ordination, impediment to the ordination. Those who are about either a benefice, patrimony, or pensionj and a bishop to receive first tonsure or minor orders must make a who, without an Apostolic indult. ordains his subject retreat of three days, those who are to be raised to a without a title, must provide for his support if heces- major order, six days; if anyone is to receive several sary, even if the subject covenanted not to ask for major orders within six months, the ordinary may re- alimentation. When these titles are not available duce the retreat for the diaconate to three days. If they may be replaced by a title of diocesan service the ordination does not tiJce place within six months