Title III: On Clerics Not Residing in Their Church or Prebend

Daily distributions ought to be given only to those present who take part in the divine offices, notwithstanding custom. And those who have received them otherwise do not make them their own; the same applies to distributions given for the anniversaries of the dead. John Andrew.

Boniface VIII.

Entirely disapproving the custom that has grown up in certain regions, by which canons and other benefice-holders, or clerics of cathedral and other collegiate churches, receive daily distributions in full—which are otherwise called manual benefices or victuals and are granted only to residents—provided that in some manner they are present in the cities or other places in which the churches themselves are situated, although they do not take part in the divine offices, just as if they were continually serving in those offices in the churches themselves, we decree that these daily distributions, in whatever things they consist, shall be granted to the canons and other benefice-holders and clerics of those churches who have been present at those offices in those churches, according to the reasonable ordinance of each church already made or also to be made. But whoever has otherwise received anything from those distributions—excepting those whom infirmity, or a just and reasonable bodily necessity, or an evident utility of the church would excuse—shall not acquire ownership of the things so received nor make them his own; rather, he shall be bound to restore everything that he has received contrary to this our constitution. We decree that the same is also to be observed concerning distributions to be bestowed for the anniversaries of the dead.