Article — Gury-Ballerini, Compendium of Moral Theology (8th ed., 1884)
Article II. On the Obligations of Pastors
- A Pastor, once canonically constituted, enjoys ordinary jurisdiction over the people entrusted to him, and without a new approval of the Bishop has the right to undertake all parochial duties. Therefore no Cleric, with the Bishop and his Vicar General and their delegates excepted, can licitly in any way perform any sacred functions in his Church or parish, without his express or reasonably presumed consent 2.
1 On the title above. On this subject, most worthy to be read, indeed to be thumbed day and night, is the little work entitled: Manuale pratico pel Parroco novello, by Giuseppe Frassinetti, Prior of St. Sabina in Genoa: operetta utile anche agli altri Ecclesiastici, specialmente Confessori e Predicatori. For whatever can in any matter pertain to any of the duties of a Pastor -- namely in the administration of the Sacraments, in sacred functions, in administering the goods that belong both to the parochial benefice and to the fabric of the church, in the beauty of the church and the decency to be kept in the parish house as well, in the care of the poor, of the sick, and of schools, in founding or fostering pious Confraternities, in furnishing the people with the food of the divine word both by preaching and by the useful reading of books, in correcting subjects where there is need, in removing scandals whether against faith or against good morals, etc. -- all of it is touched on in this excellent little work. Nor does the Author carry this out by long and, as it were, sermon-like exhortations, much less by the sharper remonstrances, as some are wont, by which he would seem to carp at the vices of ecclesiastics; but briefly and soberly, by certain admonitions full indeed of wisdom and prudence, such as the sweetest and gentlest charity, solid doctrine, long experience, and a most temperate cast of judgment (others would say discretion) are able to furnish. And hence arises this advantage, surely of the greatest moment: that against the errors into which some, either not yet sufficiently taught by experience or less furnished with prudence, are sometimes wont to stumble, they are fortified beforehand, not by trials made with their own or others' damage, at times grave, but by a most safe way shown in advance.
2 ** You cannot, therefore, hear confessions in his Church without the consent of such a pastor. If, however, you are permitted to celebrate Mass there, you can then also distribute the Most Holy Eucharist. As regards hearing confessions, however, distinguish the parish from the parochial Church. For you can go to hear the confessions of the sick even without the pastor's knowledge.
Pastors, like Bishops, are chiefly bound: 1º to residence; 2º to prayer; 3º to preaching; 4º to administration of the Sacraments; 5º to correction of the sheep; 6º to visitation of the sick and of the parish.
- I. As to residence. The Pastor is bound to residence; because when he undertook the administration of the parish, he obliged himself to consulting for the salvation of souls, and to procuring it according to his strength. - Council of Trent, sess. 23, ch. 1, De Reform. - St. Ligorius, n. 121. The Pastor must dwell in the presbyteral residence, or, if this is lacking, in the nearer house within the boundaries of the parish, so that he can easily be approached, and he himself not be impeded in fulfilling the duty of residence. But in order that satisfaction be made to the duty of residence, he must not only be present in body, but also by himself he must serve the parish. - St. Ligorius, nn. 124-127.
Yet, if they obtain permission from the Ordinary, they can for a just cause be absent each year for two months, provided they substitute for themselves a suitable Vicar through the Bishop. The permission of the Ordinary is necessary even if they wish to be absent for a week. But for one or another day they can be absent without special license from a cause which seems legitimate to them, provided they commend the parish to a suitable Vicar.
II. As to prayer. The Pastor, like the Bishop, is bound to offer the Sacrifice for the parish on feast days and Sundays, as will be clear from the things to be said in the Treatise on the Eucharist. Likewise he is bound to pray frequently for his sheep, so that he may implore for himself and his subjects the graces necessary for salvation and heavenly blessings.
Moreover the Pastor ought to take care that all learn to pray, that they pray well, and that they teach their own to pray. To this it will contribute greatly if sometimes, especially on feast days and Sundays, and also during Advent and Lent, the faithful publicly perform morning and evening prayers. - St. Ligorius, Hom. apost., tr. 7, n. 35 and following.
Therefore Pastors sin gravely who for a notable time abstain from preaching. But a notable time is held by many to be if preaching is abandoned for an entire continuous month, or for three months not continuous, or divided in the year. - Thus St. Ligorius, Bk. 3, n. 269 3. - Nor do those sufficiently fulfill the obligation who do not strive to accommodate preaching to the capacity of the hearers.
3 Thus indeed are the opinions reported there by St. Alphonsus. Nevertheless the words of Trent, from which they infer the gravity of guilt in an omission of three months, seem to regard three continuous months rather than interrupted ones.
By the name of preaching here there do not come sermons perfected and elaborated with much and subtle art, filled with elegances, and committed to memory 4; for although these sermons are useful and sometimes necessary, nevertheless for the most part a Pastor giving sermons of this sort would in no way satisfy his duty, because according to Trent he ought to teach those things which are more necessary, and in a more useful way and one more accommodated to the greatest part of the hearers. Nor less are those to be reprehended who, with no preparation employed, babble whatever comes into the mouth, without order, clarity, piety, and zeal. These disfigure the word of God and create nausea and distaste in the hearers. - Thus all.
4 The Author had before his eyes the words of the Synod of Trent (sess. 5, De Reform., ch. 2): "Let them feed the flocks committed to themselves, according to their own and their flock's capacity, with saving words, by teaching the things which are necessary for all to know for salvation, and by announcing to them, with brevity and ease of speech, the vices which they must decline, and the virtues which they ought to follow," etc.
But the Pastor who reads pious books to the hearers does not fulfill his duty of preaching, because reading is not preaching; unless someone is of so weak a memory that he cannot do otherwise. But then from time to time he ought to take care that sermons be given to the people through another, or to notify the Bishop about the impediment.
- IV. As to administration of the Sacraments. Pastors are bound by themselves to minister the Sacraments, not only when the time of precept and of grave necessity urges, but also, as regards the Sacraments which can be repeated, as often as the sheep duly, or not unseasonably, ask, unless they are legitimately impeded, or can provide for them through another without inconvenience and offense of those asking. See several other things concerning this obligation in the Treatise on the Sacraments in general.
V. As to correction. The Pastor is bound to correct subjects living in mortal sin or in proximate danger of mortal sin, even if grave danger had to be undergone; if nevertheless some hope of amendment seems to shine forth. He must also, insofar as he can, with due prudence, remove scandals from the midst, or forestall them by himself or through others, directly or indirectly, by command, counsel, exhortation, prayers, etc. - Thus commonly, and indeed more probably from justice, not from charity only. - St. Ligorius, Hom. Apost., tr. 7, n. 30 and following 5.
5 St. Alphonsus does not hesitate in this place to affirm that pastors, and much more Bishops, are bound to the office of correction even with danger to life. But here the Doctors do not use correction in the strict sense for an admonition about the amendment of offenses, but more broadly for care of warding off or impeding any spiritual ruin of the sheep committed to them. For in reality it sometimes happens that, whatever danger finally must be undergone, the pastor nevertheless must teach and warn his people. Thus, for example, where those rebellious laws against divine law are in force, which with regard to the validity or invalidity of Christian matrimony take no account of canonical laws, the pastor, with any danger whatsoever disregarded, is certainly bound to proclaim that Catholic dogma which is declared in the letters of our Most Holy Lord Pope Pius IX to the King of Sardinia, given 19 Sept. 1852: that any union whatsoever among Christians, even if sanctioned by civil laws, if it is not a sacrament, is nothing except foul concubinage.
Then Pastors ought solicitously to provide for the spiritual good of their subjects, according to that word of the Apostle, Rom. 12:8: "He who presides, in solicitude." Therefore they ought to investigate the morals of parishioners, correct delinquents, sustain the wavering, and strive that all fulfill their obligations, always holding in memory that they will one day have to render an account for their souls.
- VI. As to visitation of the sick and of the parish. It is an abuse very harmful to the salvation of souls not to visit the sick before the Pastor is summoned by them. But when the Pastor has visited the sick and refreshed them with the Sacraments, let him not think that he has fulfilled his duty; but let him visit them rather often and console them. Let the admonitions of the Roman Ritual concerning the care and visitation of the sick be read and recalled with pious meditation.
As to visitation of parishioners, the Council of Soissons of the year 1849, title 15, ch. 1, has these things:
"Because, as Christ himself says, the good Shepherd knows his sheep and calls them by name, therefore the Pastor ought to know the faithful committed to him. Therefore let him not neglect this so salutary custom of visiting individual families of his parish at certain times; and let him fulfill this duty with gravity and modesty together, and also with singular charity. For although he ought to abstain from every useless roaming through the parish, nevertheless let him not think that he has satisfied his office if, shut up at home, he waits for the parishioners to come to him. Indeed this precept of the Lord has always had force, but especially in these present times has force: Go to the sheep which have perished of the house of Israel."