Title — Decretals of Gregory IX
Title XXIV: On the Office of the Archpriest
Chapter I
Latin source headnote: The archpriest of a city is subject to the archdeacon and principally presides over priests and priestly offices.
From the Council of Toledo.
Let the archpriest know that he is subject to the archdeacon and is to obey his precepts as those of his bishop; and, as pertains specially to his ministry, that he is to exercise care of souls over all priests placed in the priestly order, stand continually in the church, and, in the absence of his bishop, celebrate in his stead the solemnities of Masses and say the collect, or cause the person upon whom he himself enjoins it to do so.
DE OFFICIO ARCHIPRESBYTERI.
Archipresbyter civitatis subest archidiacono, et principaliter praeest presbyteris et presbyteralibus officiis.
Ex concilio Toletano.
Ut archipresbyter sciat se subesse archidiacono, et eius praeceptis sicut sui episcopi obedire et, quod specialiter ad eius pertinet ministerium, super omnes presbyteros in ordine presbyterali positos curam agere animarum, et assidue in ecclesia stare, et in episcopi sui absentia ad vicem eius missarum solennia celebret, et collectam dicat, aut cui ipse iniunxerit.
Chapter II
Latin source headnote: To the same effect.
Pope Leo.
The ministry of the archpriest is constituted in this: that with diligent care he provide for the ministry of the cardinal priests, who ought to perform the solemn office in the communion of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, in such a way that he causes them in turn to assist one another so that, beginning from the sacrosanct Lord's day, they persevere unswervingly through all the canonical hours, so that the work of God may be performed worthily and holily by the one to whom it is committed, fearing the judgment of that wisest man where it is said: “Cursed is the man who performs the works of God negligently.”
§ 1. Let the archpriest also provide for the life of the cardinal priests, obeying the precepts of his bishop, lest at any time they withdraw or grow torpid in buffoonery, but let them remember that the lips of priests guard knowledge and that they seek the law from his mouth, who is the angel of the Lord of hosts.
§ 2. If the bishop is absent, excepting those things that are prohibited, let the archpriest provide for all things that ought to be performed in the ministry of priests, [that is]: to bless fonts, anoint the infirm with oil, reconcile an infirm penitent after consulting the bishop, and enjoin upon all other priests the penance that pertains to the purgation of souls.
§ 3. On the principal feasts let him either solemnly fulfill the celebration of Mass himself, or let the one to whom it is committed at the command of his mouth perform it reverently.
Ad idem.
Leo Papa.
Ministerium archipresbyteri in eo constituitur, ut diligenti cura provideat ministerium sacerdotum cardinalium, qui solenne debent agere officium in communicatione corporis et sanguinis Domini nostri Iesu Christi ita, ut vicissim eos sibimet succurrere faciat, quatenus a sacrosancto die dominico incipiendo, per omnes horas canonicas indeclinabiliter perseverent, ut opus Dei digne et sancte perficiatur ab eo, cui committitur, verens sententiam illius sapientissimi, ubi dicitur: "Maledictus homo, qui negligenter facit opera Dei." § 1. Provideat etiam archipresbyter vitam sacerdotum cardinalium, praeceptis sui obtemperando episcopi, ne aliquando cedant, aut scurrilitate torpeant, sed reminiscantur, quod labia sacerdotum custodiant scientiam, et legem requirunt ex ore eius, qui angelus Domini exercituum est. § 2. Si episcopus defuerit, exceptis his, quae prohibita sunt, archipresbyter provideat cuncta, quae in sacerdotum ministerio perfici debeant, [id est] fontes benedicere, infirmum oleo perungere, poenitentem infirmum, consulto episcopo, reconciliare, poenitentiam cunctis aliis sacerdotibus, quae ad purgationem animarum pertinet, iniungere. § 3. In praecipuis festivitatibus aut ipse celebrationem missae solenniter impleat, aut ad oris sui iussionem, cui committitur, peragat veneranter.
Chapter III
Latin source headnote: It declares what the office of the city archpriest is. Antonius de Butrio.
The same.
It is established that the office of the city archpriest, when the prelate is absent there, is to begin the office in his stead, give priestly blessings in the church, sing Mass when he wishes, or command one of the priests to do so. But when the bishop sings Mass, he ought to instruct the priests to clothe themselves in sacred vestments and how they are to proceed to Mass. For he ought to command the custodian of the church that the Eucharist of Christ not be lacking in the sacristy for the infirm.
He ought to provide for the infirm and, in providing, to command the priests lest perhaps they die without confession or the strengthening of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ; and, with all the priests, to receive the confessions of sins of those who come from outside, and thereafter through the provision of the pontiff he ought to employ great care toward them. All things for making Christians, baptizing infants, and bringing aid are also to be done by the priests at his command.
Declarat, quod sit officium archipresbyteri civitatensis. Ant. de But.
Idem.
Officium archipresbyteri de urbe constat, quando ibi praesul defuerit, vice eius officium inchoare, benedictiones presbyterales in ecclesia dare, missam, quando voluerit, cantare, vel cui de sacerdotibus iusserit. Quando vero episcopus missam canit, debet praecipere sacerdotibus, ut induant se vestibus sacris, et qualiter ad missam procedant. Debet enim praecipere custodi ecclesiae, ut in sacrario eucharistia Christi propter infirmos non desit. Debet infirmis providere, et providendo praecipere sacerdotibus, ne forte sine confessione, vel confirmatione corporis et sanguinis Domini nostri Iesu Christi moriantur; confessiones vero peccatorum eorum, qui a foris veniunt, recipere cum omnibus sacerdotibus, et exinde per provisionem pontificis magnam debet illis adhibere curam. Ad Christianos quoque faciendos, et baptizandos infantes, et ad succurrendum, omnia a sacerdotibus per iussionem illius fiant.
Chapter IV
Latin source headnote: A rural archpriest exercises care of the priests and laymen of his plebania; nevertheless, he can ordain nothing contrary to the bishop's decree.
The same, from the synod held at Ravenna.
Let each parish have an archpriest. On account of continual care toward the people of God, we will archpriests to preside over the individual parishes, who shall exercise solicitude not only for the unskilled common people but also guard with continual circumspection the life of those priests who dwell throughout the lesser titles, and shall report to their bishop with what industry each one exercises the divine work.
§ 1. Nor shall the bishop contend that the parish does not need an archpriest, as though he himself were able to govern it, because, even if he is very suitable, it is nevertheless fitting that he divide his burdens; and, just as he himself presides over the cathedral church, so let archpriests preside over the parishes, so that ecclesiastical solicitude wavers in nothing. Nevertheless, let them report all things to the bishop, nor presume to ordain anything contrary to his decree.
Archipresbyter ruralis presbyterorum et laicorum plebaniae suae curam gerit: contra decretum tamen episcopi nihil ordinare potest.
Idem ex synodo Ravennae habita.
Ut singulae plebes archipresbyterum habeant; propter assiduam erga populum Dei curam, singulis plebibus archipresbyteros praeesse volumus, qui non solum imperiti vulgi sollicitudinem gerant, verum etiam eorum presbyterorum, qui per minores titulos habitant, vitam iugi circumspectione custodiant, et qua unusquisque industria divinum opus exerceat, episcopo suo renunciet. § 1. Nec contendat episcopus, non egere plebem archipresbytero, quasi ipse eam gubernare valeat, quia, etsi valde idoneus sit, decet tamen, ut sua onera partiatur, et sicut ipse matrici ecclesiae praeest, ita archipresbyteri praesint plebibus, ut in nullo titubet ecclesiastica sollicitudo. Cuncta tamen referant ad episcopum, nec aliquid contra eius decretum ordinare praesumant.