Page:Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent Buckley.djvu/225

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ON REFORMATION.
193

or, they being hindered, by others to be deputed by the bishop, whether in the city, or in any other port soever of the diocese wherein they shall judge it to be expedient, at the charge of those who are bound, or who are accustomed to defray it, and this at least on all Lord's days and solemn festivals; but, during the season of the feasts, of Lent and of the Advent of our Lord, daily, or at least on three days in the week, if [the said bishops] shall deem it to be needful; and, at other times, as often as they shall judge that it can opportunely be done. And the bishop shall diligently admonish the people, that each one is bound to be present at his own parish church, where that can be conveniently done, to hear the word of God. But no one, whether secular or regular, shall presume to preach, even in churches of his own order, in opposition to the will of the bishop. The said [bishops] shall also take care, that, at least on the Lord's days and other festivals, the children in every parish be diligently taught the rudiments of the faith, and obedience towards God and their parents, by those whom it concerns, and, if need be, they shall constrain them even by ecclesiastical censures; any privileges and customs notwithstanding. In other respects, those things which were decreed under the said Paul III., concerning the office of preaching, shall have their proper force.

CHAPTER V.

Of Criminal Causes against Bishops the Greater Ones shall be taken cognizance of by the Sovereign Pontiff only, the Lesser by the Provincial Council.

The more grave criminal causes against bishops, even of heresy, which far be it! which are deserving of deposition or deprivation, shall be taken cognizance of and decided by the Sovereign Roman Pontiff himself only. But if the cause shall be of such a nature that it must necessarily be committed out of the Roman Court, it shall not be committed to any others soever, but to metropolitans, or bishops, to be chosen by the most blessed Pope. And this commission must both be special, and signed by the most holy Pontiff's own hand; nor shall he ever grant more to them than this; that they take information only of the fact,