Distinction XXIV

GRATIAN. Part I. It has been briefly shown how a bishop is to be examined and how he, together with the others established below him, is to be ordained. But now it must be seen concerning priests and the others whether they are to be promoted without examination. Concerning these things Paul the Apostle writes thus to Timothy: “Impose hands hastily upon no one, and do nothing without prior judgment by inclining to the other side.” [PALEA.

From the decrees of Pope Sylvester in the Roman Synod, c. 9. Let none of the acolytes or subdeacons offer to others a thing consecrated by a priest, because a minister is one thing and an assistant another, but let him only support what the priest has placed upon him, blessed by his own mouth.]

Likewise from the Third Council of Carthage, c. 22. No cleric is to be ordained unless proved either by the examination of the bishops or by the testimony of the people.

Likewise Pope Gelasius to Bishop Celestine. The priests, deacons, and all clerics of the city of Stonium suggested to us by a petition presented that in the church of blessed Eleutherius, bishop and martyr—which is proved to have been constructed in the parish of the aforesaid city—the priest who had been established there had died, and that Julian, deacon of that church, ought as swiftly as possible to be ordained in his place because of the renown of that place. And therefore, most beloved brother, if there is nothing in his life or morals that runs contrary to the enactments of the canons, you will adorn the aforesaid man with the honor of the priesthood, knowing that we created you under the name of a visitor, not of a cardinal pontiff. Likewise, you will also substitute the deacon Felicissimus in the ministry of that church, if his manner of life permits, so that a most celebrated place of procession may lack neither a priest nor a minister for the consecration of the mysteries.

Likewise from the Council of Laodicea [c. 12]. Let bishops be advanced to ecclesiastical dignity by the judgment of the metropolitans and of those bishops who are round about, namely those who over a very long time are proved both in the word of faith and by the example of an upright manner of life. Part II. GRATIAN. Since, therefore, no one is to be ordained without examination, it must be considered in what manner and at what time the examination of priests and of the others placed below them ought to take place. Concerning these things it is read that it was established thus in the Council of Nantes [c. 11]:

When a bishop arranges to perform ordinations, all who wish to approach the sacred ministry are to be summoned to the city on the Wednesday before the ordination itself, together with the priests who ought to present them. Then the bishop ought to choose from his side priests and other prudent men, knowledgeable in divine law and exercised in ecclesiastical sanctions, who are diligently to investigate, before all things, the lineage, life, homeland, age, education, and place where those to be ordained were brought up; whether they are well educated; whether instructed in the law of the Lord; whether they firmly hold the Catholic faith and are able to assert it in simple words. §1. Those to whom the care is entrusted, however, ought to beware lest, enticed either by reason of favor or by desire for any gift, they deviate from the truth, so that they present to the bishop’s hands one unworthy and less suitable to receive sacred grades. But if they do this, both the one who approached unworthily will be removed from the altar, and those who attempted to sell the gift of the Holy Spirit, already condemned before God, will lack ecclesiastical dignity. §2. Therefore let them be examined diligently for three continuous days, and thus on Saturday let those who have been approved be presented to the bishop. GRATIAN. But in other respects, namely without the counsel of the clerics and the testimony of the people, let no bishop presume to ordain anyone. Hence it is read in the Fourth Council of Carthage [c. 22]:

A bishop is not to ordain clerics without the counsel of his clerics, so that he also seeks the acquiescence and testimony of the citizens. Part III. GRATIAN. It is asked what ought to be done concerning those who were advanced without examination. Concerning these things it is read thus in the Council of Pope Martin:

If any priest or deacon was ordained without any examination, or indeed, when they were examined, confessed their criminal sins, or after ordination were exposed by others, let them be cast out of the clergy. §1. Let the same also be observed concerning the whole order of clerics, for the holy Catholic Church claims for herself that which is irreproachable.