Distinction XXXVI

GRATIAN. Part I. One who is to be ordained must also be prudent. This is to be noted against those who excuse the foolishness of priests under the name of simplicity. A bishop ought to be understood as prudent not only in skill in letters but also in the administration of secular affairs. Hence in the epistle of Pope Gelasius [to the bishops throughout Lucania, c. 18]:

Let no one presume to promote to the clergy the illiterate or those diminished in any part of the body, because one lacking sacred letters cannot be fit for sacred offices, and the precepts of the law sanctioned that absolutely nothing defective is to be offered to God. §1. Likewise those who cut themselves.

Likewise Pope Zosimus [epistle to Hesychius, bishop of Salona]. Let one who has not been imbued in order with ecclesiastical disciplines and, through the approval of periods of time, instructed for divine service by no means presume to aspire to the supreme priesthood of the Church. And not only is ambition to be held ineffective in him, but his ordainers are also to lack that order which they believed they could presume contrary to the precepts of the fathers. GRATIAN. Behold: a bishop must have skill in the sacred letters. Hence in the Old Testament, among the other ornaments, the pontiff bore the breastpiece upon his breast, on which were written manifestation and truth, because manifest knowledge of the truth ought to be in the breast of the pontiff. §1. Hence also the poles by which the ark was carried were continually inserted into the rings so that, when the ark had to be carried, no delay would occur from putting the poles in, because preachers, through whom the Church is carried about, ought always to devote themselves to the sacred letters, lest they seek to learn at the time when by reason of their office they ought to teach others. §2. Hence also David first received by the grace of the Holy Spirit the gift of knowledge and afterward attained the administration of the kingdom. §3. Solomon too sought from God and obtained not riches, not long periods of this life, but wisdom. §4. Hence also the Lord first places his words in the mouth of the prophet and afterward establishes him over nations and kingdoms, saying to Jeremiah: “Behold, I have given my words in your mouth. Behold, I have established you today over nations and over kingdoms,” etc. §5. Hence Malachi also says: “The lips of the priest guard knowledge, and they seek the law from his mouth, because he is the angel of the Lord of hosts.” §6. Hence our same Savior first sat in the midst of the doctors, hearing and questioning them, and afterward began to preach, because each person ought first to learn and afterward assume the office of preaching. §7. Hence Solomon also first says, “a time for being silent,” and afterward, “for speaking,” because truth is first learned by being silent and afterward preached by speaking. §8. Hence the same Lord says: “Let one who hears say: Come.” §9. Hence also he first taught the Apostles and then sent them to preach, saying: “Be prudent as serpents and simple as doves.” Thus also after the resurrection he first opened their understanding and explained the Scriptures, and afterward said to them: “Going into the whole world,” etc. Hence, when he wished to refresh five thousand men from five loaves, first, taking the loaves, he broke them, and afterward gave them to the disciples, and finally through them set them before the crowds, because by discussing he first expounded the sacraments of the law and the prophets, afterward gave their knowledge to the disciples, and finally through them dispensed it to the faithful. §10. And hence Peter, when he wrote to the rulers of the Church, said: “Prepared to render an account to everyone asking you for satisfaction concerning that faith and hope which is in you.” §11. Hence also Paul, writing to Timothy, says: “Attend to reading, exhortation, and doctrine.” §12. From all these things it is clearly gathered that a good manner of life and uprightness of morals do not suffice for prelates unless knowledge of doctrine is added. §13. Hence priests about to enter the tabernacle were first washed in the bronze laver that Moses had made from the mirrors of the women. §14. Hence also in the Song of Songs the eyes, by which the prelates of the Church are understood, are likened to doves that sit beside the fullest streams. Hence Jerome also, on Leviticus [c. 8]:

If anyone wishes to be a pontiff not so much in designation as in merit, let him imitate Moses; let him imitate Aaron. For what is said concerning them? That they do not depart from the tabernacle of the Lord. Moses therefore was continually in the tabernacle of the Lord. But what work did he have? Either to learn something from God or himself to teach the people. These are the two works of a pontiff: that he learn from God by reading the divine Scriptures and meditating often, or that he teach the people. But let him teach those things that he himself learned from God, not from his own heart or from human sense, but the things that the Holy Spirit teaches. §1. There is also another work that Moses does: he does not go to wars; he does not fight against enemies. But what does he do? He prays, and as long as he prays, his people conquer; if he relaxes and lowers his hands, his people are conquered and put to flight. Let the priest of the Church therefore pray continually, so that the people who are under him may conquer the invisible enemies, the Amalekites, who are the demons attacking those who wish to live piously in Christ.