churches the places commonly called hospitals, or other pious places instituted especially for the use of pilgrims, of the infirm, the aged, or the poor; or, if the parish churches should chance to be united to hospitals, or nave been converted into hospitals, and have been granted to the patrons thereof to be administered, the synod by all means enjoins, that they administer the charge and office imposed upon them, and that they actually exercise that hospitality, which is due at their hands, out of the fruits set apart for that purpose, according to the constitution of the Council of Vienne, renewed elsewhere[1] by the same holy synod under Paul III., of happy memory, which begins, Quia contingit. But if these hospitals were instituted to receive a certain class of pilgrims, or of infirm persons, or of others; and in the place where the said hospitals are situated, there be no such persons, or very few to be found, it doth moreover command, that the fruits thereof be converted to some other pious use, that may be nearest to their original destination, and the most useful for that time and place, as shall seem to be most expedient to the ordinary, aided by such two of the chapter as may be experienced in matters of business, to be chosen by him; unless it happen that the contrary be expressed, even with reference to this event, in the foundation, or institution thereof; in which case, the bishop shall take care that what was ordained be observed, or, if that be not possible, he shall, as above, provide for the matter in a useful manner. Wherefore, if all and each of the aforesaid persons, of what order soever, and religious body and dignity they may be, even if they, be laymen, who have the administration of hospitals, provided, however, they be not subject to regulars where regular observance is in force, shall, after having been admonished by the ordinary, have ceased really to discharge the duty of hospitality, applying all the necessary conditions to which they are bound, they may be compelled thereunto not only by ecclesiastical censures, and other legal remedies, but may also even be deprived for ever of the administration and care of the hospital itself; and others shall be substituted in their place, by those whom this may regard. And the persons
- ↑ See Sess. vii. de ref c. 15.
