Doubt — Bontempi, Palladium Theologicum V · from Schola Thomistica
Doubt VI: Whether canons who talk in choir can receive the distributions
Many deny it, as reported by Diana resol. 7.
An Canonici confabulantes in Choro sint capaces distributionum.
Negant multi apud Dianam resol. 7.
Others, however, concede that they can receive distributions.
Alii tamen concedunt posse eos recipere distributiones.
To me the former opinion is proved, for by cap. Dolentes they are most gravely condemned: Therefore they do not satisfy.
Mihi prior sententia probatur, nam cap. Dolentes, gravissime damnantur: Ergo non satisfaciunt.
Moreover it is certain that those absent from Choir cannot receive distributions, and if they received them, they would be bound to restitution; but it is all the same, as regards the end of the precept, which must be looked at above all, whether the Canons are absent, or present while confabulating; nay, at times they would profit the Choir more by wholly abstaining from it than by mumbling and whispering and diverting the pious application of others: These things, however, are to be limited according to what we said above dubit. 3., considering whether that confabulation is slight or great; holy or profane, etc. For these conditions, inasmuch as they validate or invalidate the recitation of the office, also make the Canon capable or incapable of distributions.
Praeterea certum est a Choro absentes, distributiones recipere non posse, et si eas reciperent, teneri ad restitutionem; perinde autem est, quantum ad finem praecepti, qui praecipue spectandus est, quod absint Canonici, aut confabulantes adsint; imo aliquando plus proficerent Choro, dum ab eo omnino se abstinerent, quam dum mussitando, et susurrando aliorum piam applicationem averterent: Haec tamen limitanda sunt iuxta ea, quae supra diximus dubit. 3. pensando, an illa confabulatio sit modica, vel magna; sancta, vel profana, etc. Hae etenim conditiones, prout validant, vel invalidant officii recitationem, reddunt etiam Canonicum capacem, vel incapacem distributionum.
There are, however, some Canons who are bound only to assist in Choir, without any burden of reciting; and these Bassaeus excepts num. 24., if they confabulate so modestly and humbly that they are not a scandal to others; which happens when they converse with one another somewhat farther off and apart from the rest. Of these I have given some indication tom. 4. tract. 1. de actibus humanis, disp. 17. quaest. 10., according to the tenor of proposition 19 condemned by Alexander VII.
Sunt autem nonnulli Canonici, qui solum assistere Choro tenentur, absque ullo recitandi onere; et hos excipit Bassaeus num. 24. si ita modeste, ac submisse confabulentur, ut aliis non sint scandalum; quod fit, cum aliquantulum remotius' et consuetis invicem colloquantur, de his aliquid insinuavi tom. 4. tract. 1. de actibus humanis, disp. 17. quaest. 10. iuxta tenorem propositionis 19. ab Alexandro VII. damnatae.