Page:Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent Buckley.djvu/268

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ON REFORMATION
285

sible to give satisfaction thereto on the particular days prescribed by the testators; or, that such alms left for the celebration thereof, is so slight that it is not easy to find any one willing to subject himself to the duty; whereby the pious intentions of the testators are frustrated, and occasion is given for burthening the consciences of those whom the aforesaid obligations concern. The holy synod, desiring that these legacies for pious uses be satisfied in the most complete and useful maimer possible, gives power to bishops in diocesan synod, and likewise to abbots and generals of orders, that, in their general chapters, they shall ordain, in regard hereof, whatsoever in their consciences they shall, upon a diligent examination of the circumstance, ascertain to be most expedient for God's honour and worship, and the good of the churches, in those churches aforesaid which they shall find to stand in need of such provision; in such wise, however, that a commemoration be always made of the departed who, for the welfare of their souls, hove left the said legacies for pious uses.

CHAPTER V.

No Alteration shall he made in the Conditions and Obligations imposed on Benefices rightly established.

Reason demands, that, from those matters which have been well established, no alteration be made by any ordinances to the contrary. Whenever, therefore, by virtue of the erection or foundation of any benefices, or in consequence of other regulations, certain qualifications are required, or certain obligations attached thereunto, they shall not be derogated from in the collation, or in any other arrangement soever in regard of the said benefices. The same also shall be observed as regards prebends assigned to professors of theology, masters, doctors, priests, deacons, or subdeacons, whenever such prebends have been so established, in such sort that, in no provision whatever shall anything be altered in regard of such qualifications and orders; and any provision made otherwise shall be accounted surreptitious.