Article — Gury-Ballerini, Compendium of Moral Theology (8th ed., 1884)
Article I. On the Obligations of Bishops
- A Bishop is called an Ordinary, because he uses ordinary jurisdiction in his diocese. He is also called Diocesan by reason of the territory subject to him, and Suffragan by reason of the Metropolitan to whom he is subject. His Church is called Cathedral because in it is the episcopal See, or Chair.
The obligations of Bishops, besides those by which on the day of consecration they bind themselves by oath, are reduced to residence, prayer, preaching, and visitation of the diocese.
But there are several causes excusing a Bishop from perpetual and continuous residence.
1º Christian charity, for example, if some Church is placed in great danger of heresy and he can bring help to it, or if his mediation is necessary for composing peace, etc.
2º Urgent necessity, for example, if the Bishop's life is endangered because of sickness, inclemency of the air, personal persecution, etc.; but not because of a general danger, for example, in time of contagion, etc.
3º Due obedience, namely when the Pontiff calls some Bishop so that he may entrust to him the care of some business: thus Cardinals assisting the Roman Pontiff have a sufficient cause why they are rather often absent from their Churches.
4º The evident good of the Church, for defending its rights, for example, in a provincial or general Council. - St. Ligorius, n. 125.
It is permitted to Bishops that for an honorable cause and without detriment to the flock they can be absent each year for two or three months, either continuously or at intervals. From the Council of Trent, sess. 23, ch. 1, De Reform. But they cannot be absent longer without an Apostolic Indult, if you except pilgrimage to the thresholds of the Apostles and attendance at a provincial Council.
- II. As to preaching. Bishops are bound by a most strict obligation of preaching the word of God, by themselves or at least through others, if they themselves have been legitimately impeded: this is established from Sacred Scripture. Thus the Apostle, 2 Tim. 4:2: "Preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, entreat, rebuke in all patience and doctrine," etc. It is also established from the Council of Trent, sess. 5, ch. 2, De Reform.
III. As to prayer. Bishops, after the likeness of the Apostles, ought often to devote effort to prayer, and to exercise themselves in the contemplation of divine things, and continually to implore divine light for themselves, the Clergy, and the whole people.
Frequently, and at least on Sundays and feast days, they ought to offer the Sacrifice for the whole diocese, and often to incite the people to prayer, by teaching the manner of praying, by appointing private and public prayers in chief necessities, and by decreeing supplications, etc. - St. Ligorius, Hom. apost., tr. 7, nn. 65-66.
- IV. As to episcopal visitation. The Bishop, as pastor of the whole diocese, ought to bear great care for the souls committed to his solicitude and labors. Wherefore he is bound diligently to visit the various Churches of his jurisdiction, so that he may know his sheep, as is fitting, detect their necessities, and search out the means of meeting them. To all these things he is obliged by divine and natural law, nor can this law be abrogated or diminished by any custom, as is open from the Council of Trent, sess. 24, ch. 3, De Reform. - St. Ligorius, Hom. apost., tr. 7, nn. 59-60.
Bishops who administer distant and immense dioceses, as in France, cannot survey them whole every year or every other year: therefore they are excused because of impossibility, provided they do what they can and visit a great part of the diocese, at least through Vicars General, if they are personally impeded.
In all things which pertain to visitation and correction of morals, Bishops have the right of ordering, moderating, punishing, and executing those things, according to the sanctions of the Canons, which according to their prudence seem necessary for the amendment of subjects and the utility of the diocese. - Thus from the Council of Trent, sess. 24, ch. 10, De Reform.