CHAP. XIII. Session XXIII. 1563. Decree concerning orders, would quit the church, hoping to be followed by every one present.-Nay, the French were prepared on this occasion to protest against Pius IV. as not rightful pope, and against the decrees which had passed "as made at Rome, and not at Trent, and as being the decrees of Pius, and not of the council." I At length, after numberless delays and diffiJuly 15, culties, the twenty-third session was held, and the decrees and canons concerning orders were published. Ordination was declared to be a true and proper sacrament, to imprint an indelible character, and to convey power to retain or remit sins; and those who should deny these, and other points now decided, were anathematized. The question of the divine or the derived right of bishops was evaded : 2 and, on the other disputed subject of residence, the council, after ten month's deliberation and debate, and after sending various embassies and despatches to the pope and all the leading princes of Europe, came to the momentous decision, "That not to reside is sinful, where there is not a lawful cause to the contrary. and residence. Session XXIV. Decree on marriage. "3 The subject of the twenty-fourth session was Nov. 11. marriage, which was declared to be "a true and proper sacrament." But it was also declared, that it is "better and happier to abide in virginity or celibacy than to marry; and that "churchmen in holy orders, or regulars who have professed chastity," may not contract marriage, and that if they do their marriage is void. Anathemas were pronounced against such as should deny these positions, or that marriage, 1 F. P. 680-683. C. ii. 518-523. D. P. vii. 317-320. 2 F. P. 677, 683, 687. C. ii. 514, 524, 528. 3 F. P. 690-695. C. ii. 533-544. D. P. vii. 325–333. not consummated, is dissolved by a religious vow of one of the parties.' A. D. 1563. marriage. F. Paul thus developes the policy of prohibit- Policy of ing marriage to the clergy. "It is plain that prohibiting married priests will turn their affections and love to their wives and children, and by consequence to their house and country: so that the strict dependence of the clergy on the apostolic see would cease. Thus granting marriage to priests would destroy the ecclesiastical hierarchy, and leave the pope bishop of Rome only." 2 reduced. It appears that the restrictions upon marriage, Prohibited on the ground of relationship, had been carried degrees much further in preceding ages than they were at the period of the council of Trent. The prohibition had been extended to the seventh degree of consanguinity or affinity, and applied to the imaginary relationships formed by engaging as sponsors in baptism, as well as to those which have a natural foundation. But pope Innocent III. limited it to the fourth degree, alleging such notable reasons as these, that there were but four elements in nature, and four humours in man's body!3 closing The twenty-fifth session had been fixed for XXVth or the ninth of December: but for some time past session, the leading princes of Christendom, convinced Dec. 3, 4 that no good was to be expected from the council, had forborne to press their several objects; allowed their prelates and divines to withdraw; and seemed intent only on bringing the assembly to an end as decently and quietly as possible: and now, says F. Paul, "the one only aim and joint resolution was to precipitate the con 1 F. P. 730, 736. C. ii. 606, 617. 2 F. P. 635, 431. C. ii. 449. 3 F. P. 699. C. ii. 552. 4 F. P. 658-9, 729. C. ii. 482-3, 603. D. P. vii. 349. CHAP. clusion." The day of the session therefore was anticipated: and on December the 3d and 4th decrees were published on purgatory, the invocation and worship of saints, images, and relics; on indulgences, and prohibited books; as also concerning various subjects of reformation; and finally for terminating the council, and desiring the pope's confirmation of its decisions. On some of these heads, though all now "aimed at avoiding difficulties," the different parties could not agree; and they were forced to pass over some points in words that would express the sentiments in which they concurred, without contradicting those in which Purgatory. they differed.2-Concerning purgatory it was thought, that enough was implied in what had been taught concerning the utility of the sacrifice of the mass to the departed, and what remained to be declared concerning the duty of praying for them. The decree therefore did little else than ordain that such "masses, prayers, alms, and other works of piety as were customarily performed by the faithful here for the faithful that are departed be offered with piety and devotion, according to the usages of the church;" and then guard against abuses and too curious inquiries connected with the Invocation subject.-" The saints who reign with Christ," of saints. it was declared, "offer up their prayers to God for men:" and therefore it was pronounced "a good and profitable thing to call upon them with humility, and to have recourse to their prayers, aid, and assistance, in order to obtain grace and favour from God, through his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." It was further decreed "that the faithful ought to pay veneration A. D. 1563. the holy bodies and relics of the martyrs and other saints and that to the images of Jesus Relics. Christ, the virgin-mother of God, and the other Images. saints, "the honour and veneration ought to be paid which are their due." "Not that any divinity or virtue is believed to be in them, for which they should be worshipped,... but because the honour which is paid to them is referred to the originals which they represent. "All superstition," however, "was to be taken away, and all filthy lucre to be avoided:" and considerable anxiety seems implied in the decrees to avoid those crying abuses upon all these points, which had raised so general a prejudice, and given the reformers so powerful a handle against the church of Rome." of the When these decrees had been read, cardinal Dissolution Morone, as chief president, granted to every Council. one that was present in the session, or had assisted in the council, a plenary indulgence; blessed the council, and dismissed it; saying, that, after they had given thanks to God, they might go in peace.2 "It is incredible," says Pallavicini, "how Effect on much the news of the conclusion of the council the Pope. revived the pope in the sickness," under which he at this time laboured, and from apprehension of the consequences of which the fathers had been more anxious to bring their deliberations to a close: "so that his holiness would not have been without an illness which," by expediting this happy event, "had been so useful to the church.... He ordered therefore a solemn procession to be made the next day to give 1 D. P. vii. 368-391. F. P. 750-757. C. ii. 643-661. 2 F. P. 757. CHAP. Fidelity of F. Paul's thanks to God, and granted indulgences to all who should assist in it."1 Such is the view given us of this celebrated council by that great writer Fra Paolo Sarpi; whose representations are confirmed by Du Pin, and vindicated, in all material points, against the exceptions of Pallavicini and other zealous Romanists, by the learned French translator of the work, Dr. Courayer-himself also a member of the Romish communion. Though Pallavicini's history was written under the sanction of the court of Rome, to counteract the impression made by that of F. Paul, yet we have seen that Du Pin declares that the two histories "agree well concerning the principal facts, and differ little but in things of no moment:" and Courayer scruples not to affirm that, after all, "F. Paul is the historian of the council, and Pallavicini its panegyrist." "As soon as the history of the former was published," he says, "it was read with eagerness; and the lapse of more than a century since its first appearance has only enhanced the opinion which the learned, the enlightened, and the impartial formed of it. Rome indeed was offended at it, and left no means untried to lower its estimation, and to discredit its author. But a work essentially good will support itself against the low and interested attacks which may be made upon it; and the slight errors, which the inspection of the Acts of the council, and the discovery of several new memorials relating to it, have detected in this history, have only served to give to the rest more credit His sources and authority."-Father Paul, indeed, had not of informa 2 Vol. i. Pref. p. xvi. 3 Cour. Pref. p. i. and viii. |