Canons of the Council of Vaison (442)
The whole work on one page. Select a passage number to open that passage with its notes, Scripture references, and citation.
Chapter 1
1Bruns 2:127
Placuit ergo tractatu habito episcopos de Gallicanis provinciis venientes intra Gallias non discutiendos, sed solum sufficere si nullus communionem alicujus interdixerit; qui, inter circumhabitantes ac sibi pene invicem notos non tam te,tm,ulo iodig,t piK,bi, quan dfenotatiooe c dmulioiafiidnibiil depravati.
It was decided, then, after discussion, that bishops coming from the Gallic provinces within Gaul are not to be examined, but that it is enough if no one has forbidden communion with any of them; since among those who live around one another and are almost all known to each other … .
Chapter 2
2Bruns 2:127
Pro his qui poenitentia accepta in bonae vitae cursu satisfactoria compunctione viventes, sine communione, inopinato nonnunquam transitu, in agris aut in itineribus praeveniuntur, oblationem recipiendam et eorum funera ac deinceps memoriam ecclesiastico affectu prosequendam; quia nefas est eorum commemorationes excludi a salutaribus sacris, qui ad eadem sacra fideli affectu contendentes, dum se diutius reos statuunt, indignos salutiferis mysteriis judicant ac dum purgatiores restitui desiderant, absque sacramentorum viatico intercipiuntur, quibus fortasse nec absolutissimam reconciliationem sacerdos denegandam putasset.
For those who, having received penance and living in the course of a good life with satisfying compunction, are sometimes overtaken by an unexpected death, without communion, in the fields or on journeys, their offering is to be received, and their funerals and afterwards their memory are to be attended with the church's affection; for it is wrong that their commemorations be excluded from the saving rites, who, striving toward those same rites with faithful affection, while they judge themselves guilty for a longer time, judge themselves unworthy of the saving mysteries, and, while they desire to be restored more cleansed, are cut off without the viaticum of the sacraments, to whom perhaps the priest would not have thought even the fullest reconciliation should be denied.
Chapter 3
3Bruns 2:127
Per singula territoria presbyteri vel ministri ab episcopis, non prout libitum fuerit a vicinioribus, sed a suis propriis per annos singulos chrisma petant, appropinquante solemnitate paschali, nec per quemcumque ecclesiasticum, sed si qua necessitas aut ministrorum occupatio est, per subdiaconem quia inhonorum est inferioribus summa committi; optimum autem est, ut ipse suscipiat, qui in tradendo usurus est. Si quid obstat, saltem is cujus officii est sacrarium disponere et sacramenta suscipere.
In each territory the presbyters or ministers are to seek the chrism from the bishops, not from the nearer ones as they please, but from their own, every year, as the paschal feast approaches; and not through any church officer whatever, but, if there is some necessity or the ministers are occupied, through a subdeacon, because it is unbecoming to entrust the highest things to inferiors. But the best is that the one who will use it in conferring it should receive it himself. If anything prevents, then at least the one whose office it is to arrange the sacristy and to receive the sacred things.
Chapter 4
4Bruns 2:127
Qui oblationes defunctorum fidelium detinent et ecclesiis tradere demorantur, ut infideles sunt ab ecclesia abjiciendi, quia usque ad exinanitionem fidei pervenire certum est hanc divinae pietatis exacerbationem, qua et fideles de corpore recedentes votorum suorum plenitudine, et pauperes collatu alimoniae et necessaria sustentatione fraudantur. Hi enim tales quasi egentium necatores, nec credentes judicium dei habendi sunt. Unde et quidam patrum hoc scriptis suis inseruit congruente sententia qua ait: Amico quippiam rapere furtum est, ecclesiam fraudare sacrilegium.
Those who keep back the offerings of deceased faithful and delay handing them over to the churches are to be cast out of the church as unbelievers, since it is certain that this provocation of the divine goodness goes as far as emptying out the faith, by which both the faithful departing from the body are defrauded of the fulfilment of their wishes and the poor of the gift of food and necessary support. For such persons are to be held as murderers of the needy, and as not believing in the judgment of God. Hence also one of the fathers inserted this in his writings with a fitting sentence, where he says: "To take something from a friend is theft; to defraud the church is sacrilege."
Chapter 5
5Bruns 2:127
Si quis episcopi sui sententiae non acquiescit, recurrat ad synodum.
If anyone does not accept the sentence of his bishop, let him have recourse to the synod.
Chapter 6
6Bruns 2:127
Ex epistola sancti Clementis utilia quaeque praesenti tempore ecclesiis necessaria sunt honorifice proferenda, et cum reverentia ab omnibus fidelibus ac praecipue clericis percipienda: ex quibus quod specialiter placuit, propter venerandam antiquitatem statutis praesentibus roboramus, quod suprascriptus beatus martyr de beatissimi apostoli Petri institutione commemorat dicens: Quaedam autem etiam ex vobis ipsis intelligere debetis, si qua sint quae ipse propter insidias hominum malorum non potest evidentius et manifestius proloqui. Verbi gratia, si inimicus est alicui pro actibus suis, vos nolite expectare ut ipse vobis dicat: Cum illo nolite amici esse; sed prudenter observare debetis et voluntati, ejus ^bseomidbre, et aTerli ab 00 oui ipetitn MHttift mivwmain ed: mc -loqoi tm qutbes ipse lum loqoitur; mt aiutiiquieqae qui ia.cid|iR eBt, duin capit 'omniuni vestniiii sibi giutiaBi repaiiir, fealiaet citioB recon<^arr ei qui oBnibiis praeest. nt per hoo redeat ad 'sahitem cum obedire oeeperit nienitis pmeridean tis; et cetera quae in consequentibus denotant amicos eeraof qui TlDrilKtis O iminiei eunt. > Spiat Uaque ' AwHseps' clerus ad Tealom, sed et.populae fideliini ad ^pMi sibi adscribendum, 81 quis beein vitio f) malorum cenfinrtator <et dis(rip4i iae subversor agnoscatur. ' r
From the epistle of Saint Clement, all the useful things that are necessary to the churches at the present time are to be brought forward with honour and received with reverence by all the faithful, and above all by the clergy; of which, what has especially pleased us, because of its venerable antiquity, we confirm by the present statutes: what the above-named blessed martyr records of the institution of the most blessed apostle Peter, saying: "Some things too you ought to understand of yourselves, if there are any which he cannot speak out more plainly and openly because of the snares of evil men. For example, if he is hostile to someone because of his deeds, do not wait for him to say to you, 'Do not be friends with that man'; but you ought wisely to observe and … his will, and turn away from him … ." …
Chapter 7
7Bruns 2:127
Placuit praeterea accusandi licentiam etiam in nostri ordinis si qua existit levitate comprimere, ut se episcopus, si quem judicat abstinendum, et pro humiliatione et correctione fratris assurgit exorari a ceteris, acquiescat fratri de quo agitur, correptione et comminatione adhibita; sin autem de crimine aliquem putet esse damnandum, accusatoris vice discutiendum 'Mlliit; £m 6t enuii/iit quae tmi fnrebatituri probentut oinnibus. '
It was decided moreover to restrain the freedom of accusing, if there is any levity in it even in our order: so that a bishop, if he judges that someone should be kept from communion, and rises for the humiliation and correction of a brother, should allow himself to be entreated by the others and give way to the brother in question, rebuke and warning having been applied; but if he thinks that someone must be condemned for a crime, … .
Chapter 8
8Bruns 2:127
Quod si se tantum episcopus alieni sceleris conscium novit, quamdiu probare non potest nihil proferat, sed cum ipso ad compunctionem ejus secretis correptionibus elaboret; qui 81 certe,tus peHinacior fuerit, et se communioni publicae ingesserit, etiamsi episcopi in redarguendo illo quem rcfum' jodieat piebaiionibas deficiat indmmaltts licet ab,-MsP qui mbil,sci,nt, sfcedere ad tempup pio pelsona majoris liucto-^ ritatis jubeatur, illo, quamdiu probari nSiii potest, iil' cQmauniQne oninium praeterquam cjue qui eum reuni gu,pft permapente.
But if a bishop alone knows himself to be aware of another's crime, as long as he cannot prove it let him bring nothing forward, but work with the man himself by secret rebukes for his compunction; and if he is more stubborn and thrusts himself into public communion, … .
Chapter 9
9Bruns 2:127
De expositis, quia conclamata ab omnibus querela processit eos non misericordiae jam sed canibus exponi, quos colligere calumniarum metu quamvis inflexa praeceptis misericordiae mens humana detrectet: id servandum visum est, ut secundum statuta fidelissimorum, piissimorum, augustissimorum principum quisquis expositum colligit, ecclesiam PMiinn A\t jmUMter. aiutmitiel, ut Miat ooclf ia expottiianL mM cftMQftiMiiv>nt Joffla dies deoeni ^b expeeitioiiie die expaeitni icdpiat, ai ^inia 90 eoaiprobavent.agnoTisae,, qfdfeelori pio ipo,nHi dec, dienim jttiaaacQrdia,' pmii mahieBit, aui ad piaeeoBii ab JionuneJaot ia porpotmmi. omn.deo gratia persolr
Concerning exposed children: since a complaint has been raised by all that they are exposed no longer to mercy but to dogs, and that the human mind, though bent by the precepts of mercy, shrinks from taking them up for fear of false claims, it seemed that this should be observed: that, according to the statutes of the most faithful, most pious, and most august princes, whoever takes up an exposed child should … the church … within ten days from the day of exposure … .
Chapter 10
10Bruns 2:129
Sane si ^ma poal hand dittgentiesimam eanctioiiem eqpo aitotnmi boo ordine coUeclonmi n,potitor vel' cdmiiiiiator ex ^terit, ut homicida ecclesiastica districtione feriatur.
Indeed, if anyone after this most careful sanction … come forward as a claimant or slanderer of those taken up in this order, let him be struck with church discipline as a murderer.