Title XXX: On One Who Secretly Received an Order

Latin source headnote: One who secretly receives an order, if an excommunication had been rendered against persons doing this, cannot minister in the order thus received or ascend to a higher one without a dispensation of the Pope; but if an excommunication had not been rendered, the bishop and abbot will be able to dispense. It says this together with the following two chapters.

Alexander III, to the Bishop of Langres.

P., the bearer of the present letters, coming to us, explained to us that, having been circumvented by the cunning of the ancient enemy, he secretly received the order of the diaconate. Wherefore we respond to your fraternity that, if perhaps he was not prohibited by you, or by any of your archdeacons or prelates, under threat of anathema, you yourself, after fitting satisfaction has been imposed, may at your judgment dispense for his promotion to the priestly office, unless other matters impede. But if a threat of anathema was made concerning this, you are to admonish him, as we too have done, to receive the regular habit in some monastery or house of canons. According to the admonition, after he has lived laudably in that habit for some time, you will be able to provide for him mercifully; otherwise, by no reason do we grant that he be promoted to the priestly order.

Latin source headnote: It is summarized in the immediately preceding chapter.

Celestine III.

When H., the bearer of the present letters, as he showed us by his inquiry, came to your presence for the purpose of ordination, you conferred upon him the four minor orders according to the custom of the country. Not content with these, with a rash venture he also received the subdiaconate [on that same day, hiding among others without your knowledge, and the diaconate]. But because the same cleric transgressed greatly in this deed, we command that you permit him to celebrate only in minor orders. But if he shall enter a religious house and his life and morals shall require it, his abbot, if he wishes, will be able [also] to dispense with him in the other orders.

Latin source headnote: It is summarized in the first chapter above.

The same.

It became known to us from the tenor of your letters that the cleric G., the bearer of the present letters, and two others from your diocese went to G., formerly Bishop of Sigüenza, to receive orders from him. And although it had been prohibited by that bishop under sentence of excommunication that anyone thrust himself forward to receive two orders, the aforesaid clerics nevertheless secretly received the orders of subdiaconate and diaconate. Therefore, because concerning what is to be done by you for them your fraternity led us to be consulted, We respond thus to your consultation: those thus ordained ought not by rigor of law to minister in the orders received. Nevertheless, if they wished to transfer themselves to any religious life, and, after completing a penance imposed upon them at your judgment, shall have lived laudably there, in the course of time you will be able by our permission to dispense with them so that afterward they may rejoice in exercising the orders received. Furthermore, on behalf of the aforesaid G., because he labored in his own person, we more attentively entreat and admonish your fraternity that you cause him to be received as a brother into the house of canons regular of Saint P. of Semina or another religious place, where he may lament his offense, so that, if you shall see his merits supporting him while he lives regularly there, you may grant him the faculty of ministering, as we have said.