Title — Decretals of Gregory IX
Title XLIV: On the Custody of the Eucharist, Chrism, and the Other Sacraments
Chapter I
Latin source headnote: The Eucharist and chrism ought faithfully to be kept under keys, and those acting contrary are to be punished.
Innocent III, in the General Council.
We establish that in all churches chrism and the Eucharist are to be preserved under faithful custody with keys applied, lest a rash hand be capable of being extended to them for the perpetration of any horrible or nefarious things. But if he to whom the custody pertains should leave them incautiously, let him be suspended from office for three months; and, if through his carelessness any nefarious thing should happen from this, let him be subject to a graver punishment.
DE CUSTODIA EUCHARISTIAE, CHRISMATIS ET ALIORUM SACRAMENTORUM.
Eucharistia et chrisma debent fideliter sub clavibus custodiri, et contra fecientes sunt puniendi.
Innocentius III. in concilio generali.
Statuimus, ut in cunctis ecclesiis chrisma et eucharistia sub fideli custodia clavibus adhibitis conserventur, ne possit ad illa temeraria manus extendi ad aliqua horribilia vel nefaria exercenda. Si vero is, ad quem spectat custodia, ea incaute reliquerit, tribus mensibus ab officio suspendatur, et, si per eius incuriam aliquid nefandum inde contigerit, graviori subiaceat ultioni.
Chapter II
Latin source headnote: Household goods ought not to be placed in churches unless necessity presses. This it says first. Churches ought to keep their vessels and vestments clean. This second.
The same, in the same council.
We do not wish to leave uncorrected the fact that certain clerics so fill churches with their own household goods, and even those of others, that they appear to be lay houses rather than basilicas of God, not considering that the Lord did not permit a vessel to be carried through the temple. There are also others who leave not only the churches uncared for, but also the vessels of ministry, the vestments of the ministers, the altar cloths, and even the corporals themselves so unclean that at times they are a horror to some. But because zeal for the house of God consumes us, we firmly prohibit household goods of this kind from being admitted into churches, unless on account of hostile incursions, sudden fires, or other pressing necessities it is necessary to take refuge in them, yet in such a way that, when the necessity ceases, the things are carried back to their former places. We command also that the aforesaid oratories, vessels, corporals, and vestments be preserved clean and bright. For it appears excessively absurd to neglect in sacred things filth that would be unbecoming even in profane things.
Supellectilia in ecclesiis poni non debent, nisi necessitas urgeat. Hoc dicit primo. Ecclesiae debent sua vasa et vestimenta munde tenere. Hoc secundo.
Idem in eodem.
Relinqui nolumus incorrectum, quod quidam clerici ecclesias sic exponunt suppellectilibus propriis, et etiam alienis, ut potius domus laicae, quam Dei basilicae videantur, non considerantes, quod Dominus non sinebat, ut vas transferretur per templum. Sunt et alii, qui non solum ecclesias dimittunt incultas, verum etiam vasa ministerii, et vestimenta ministrorum, ac pallas altaris, nec non et ipsa corporalia tam immunda relinquunt, quod interdum aliquibus sunt horrori. Quia vero zelus nos comedit domus Dei, firmiter prohibemus, ne huiusmodi suppellectilia in ecclesiis admittantur, nisi propter hostiles incursus, aut incendia repentina, seu alias necessitates urgentes ad eas oporteat haberi refugium, sic tamen, ut necessitate cessante, res in loca pristina reportentur. Praecipimus quoque, ut oratoria, vasa, corporalia et vestimenta praedicta munda et nitida conserventur. Nimis enim videtur absurdum in sacris sordes negligere, quae dedecerent etiam in profanis.