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ER 1039
Canon 5 of the First Council of Orléans (Gaul, AD 511) describes the correct use of the gifts in offerings and fields bestowed by the king on the Church. These funds should be used e.g. for the stipends of clergymen, who shall be also exempted from taxation.
Canon 5
 
De oblationibus uel agris, quos domnus noster rex ecclesiis suo munere conferre dignatus est uel adhuc non habentibus Deo sibi inspirante contulerit, ipsorum agrorum uel clericorum inmunitate concessa, id esse iustissimum definimus, ut in reparationibus ecclesiarum, alimoniis sacerdotum et pauperum uel redemtionibus captiuorum, quidquid Deus in fructibus dare dignatus fuerit, expendatur et clereci ad adiutorium ecclesiastici operis constringantur. Quod si aliqui sacerdotum ad hanc curam minus sollicitus ac deuotus extiterit, publice a conprouincialibus episcopis confundatur. Quod si nec sub tali confusione correxerit, donec emendet errorem, communione fratrum habeatur indignus.
 
(ed. de Clercq 1963: 6)
Canon 5
 
Concerning the offerings or fields which our Lord the King deigned to bestow on the churches as his gift or will bestow, inspired by God, on those who hitherto had nothing, having exempted these fields or clerics from taxation, we decree it to be most just that these funds, whatever God will deign to give in fruits, should be spent on the repairing of churches, sustenance of priests and poor, or redemption of captives, and clerics should be bound to support Church enterprises. If any of the priests is proved to be less solicitous and devoted to this task, he will be publicly admonished by his fellow provincial bishops. If he does not correct himself even under such reprimand, until he has made amends for his error he will be deemed unworthy of communion with the brothers.
 
(trans. J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

 
 

Place of event:

Region
  • Gaul
City
  • Orléans

About the source:

Title: First Council of Orléans 511, Concilium Aurelianense I anno 511
Origin: Orléans (Gaul)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian
The First Council of Orléans gathered on the 10th of July 511 under the auspices of King Clovis I, four years after his conquest of Aquitaine from the hands of the Visigoths. It seems that Clovis wanted the bishops he convened to issue ecclesiastical laws that could apply to both his new and old subjects, people of Roman and Germanic descent alike. The 31 canons of this council are preceded with the letter from the bishops to Clovis in which they ask for his confirmation of the decrees. The council was attended by 32 bishops, including five metropolitans: Cyprian of Bordeaux (probably presiding), Tetradius of Bourges, Licinius of Tours, Leontius of Eauze, and Gildared of Rouen.
Edition:
C. de Clercq ed., Concilia Galliae a. 511-a. 695, Corpus Christianorum. Series Latina 148 A, Turnhout 1963.
 
Translation:
J.N. Hillgarth, Christianity and paganism, 350-750: the conversion of Western Europe, Philadelphia 1986.
J. Gaudemet, B. Basdevant, Les canons des conciles mérovingiens VIe-VIIe siècles, Sources chrétiennes 353, Paris 1989.

Categories:

Described by a title - Clericus
    Economic status and activity - Ownership or possession of land
      Economic status and activity - Gift
        Livelihood/income
          Economic status and activity - Taxes and services
            Private law - Ecclesiastical
              Devotion - Donations and offerings
                Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1039, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1039
                Record by: Jerzy Szafranowski
                last edited: 2017-08-10 19:53:25
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