ARTICLE I: ON THE OBLIGATIONS OF BISHOPS

1133. • 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 to which they bind themselves by oath on the day of consecration, are reduced to residence, preaching, prayer, and visitation of the diocese.

1134. • I. As to residence. Bishops, even if they are Cardinals, are held to dwell in their diocese, as is gathered from the Council of Trent.¹

But there are several causes excusing a Bishop from perpetual and continuous residence.

1° Christian charity, for example if some Church is in great danger of heresy and he can bring help to it, or if his mediation is necessary for composing peace, etc.

2° Urgent necessity, for example if the Bishop's life is endangered on account of sickness, inclemency of air, personal persecution, etc.; but not on account of general danger, for example in time of contagion: yet at that time he will be able to remain in safer places of his diocese and from there provide for his own. St. Alphonsus, L. VI. 233.

3° Due obedience, namely when the Pontiff calls some Bishop in order to entrust to him the care of some business.

4° The evident good of the Church, for defending its rights, for example in a Provincial or General Council.²

It is permitted to Bishops, from an honest cause and without detriment of the flock, to be absent each year for two or three months, whether continuously or interruptedly. Thus the Council of Trent, where there are several things concerning this matter.³ But they cannot be absent longer without Apostolic Indult - or, if it is a question of our Bishops, without the cause of absence having been approved in writing either by the Metropolitan, or, he being absent, by the older suffragan Bishop residing, who must likewise approve the absence of the Metropolitan⁴ - if you except pilgrimage to the thresholds of the Apostles and assistance at a Provincial Council.

1135. • II. As to preaching. Bishops are held by a most strict obligation of preaching the word of God, by themselves or at least by others if they themselves have been legitimately impeded. This is clear from Sacred Scripture. Thus the Apostle:¹ Preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, entreat, rebuke in all patience and doctrine, etc. This is also clear from the Council of Trent.²

III. As to prayer. Bishops, after the likeness of the Apostles, must often devote themselves to prayer, exercise themselves in contemplation of divine things, and continually implore divine light for themselves, the Clergy, and the whole people.

Frequently, and at least on Sundays and feast days, they must offer the Sacrifice for the whole diocese, and often incite the people to prayer by teaching the mode of praying, by appointing private and public prayers in chief necessities, and by decreeing supplications, etc.³

1136. • IV. As to episcopal visitation. The Bishop, as pastor of the whole diocese, must bear great care of the souls committed to his solicitude and labors. Wherefore he is bound diligently to visit the diverse 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 clear from the Council of Trent.⁴ Cf. n. 185. II.

"But if, on account of the distance of places," says the Plenary Council of Baltimore II,⁵ "and the number of churches, they cannot visit all the churches yearly, let them at least visit the principal ones and those which are nearer to the Episcopal city, and let them order the visitation in such a way that every two years, according to the prescription of Trent,⁶ or, if this cannot be done, at least every three years, they may go through the individual parts of the diocese. But let them perform this most grave Episcopal duty not too hastily or perfunctorily, but with all diligence applied, and led by zeal for souls; asking carefully and in a summary way concerning all those things which are prescribed in the Roman Pontifical."

In all things which pertain to visitation and the correction of morals, Bishops have the right of ordering, moderating, punishing, executing, according to the sanctions of the Canons, those things which may seem necessary according to their prudence for the amendment of subjects and the utility of the diocese. Thus from the Council of Trent¹ and Benedict XIV, Bull Ad militantis. - Nor is there given from decrees made in visitation outside judicial form an appeal to suspensive effect, but only to devolutive effect.

1137. • The other obligations of Bishops are handed down in their proper places. Those which follow are more proper to our Bishops.

1. In recommending men to the Episcopate they are held to follow with the greatest diligence the rules prescribed by the Holy See; but especially to beware lest they recommend any except those whom in conscience they judge suitable.²

2. The erection of seminaries, where this is possible, is commended, inculcated, and prescribed to them.³

3. They must stir priests to annual retreats and to spiritual and theological conferences.⁴

4. They are held to watch over the execution of those things which were decreed by the Holy Synod of Trent concerning the residence of pastors, and they are admonished that in their synods they establish penalties against those who have been absent without grave cause or permission.⁵

5. "Let them admonish ... priests exercising the care of souls that they also apply themselves personally to the instruction of youth in Christian doctrine."⁶

6. They are prohibited from enrolling in their clergy priests coming from Europe unless the letters of their Bishops have first been had; but those who from these provinces wish to pass to another diocese, they are prohibited from dismissing unless it is certain that they are to be received by another Bishop.⁷

7. The offices of Bishops as to schools, see n. 440. 3°, and as to ecclesiastical goods, n. 619 sq.