The Presbyters Project

From the summary preceding the canons:

[...] Quidam etiam a sacerdotibus relati sunt quod ecclesiasticae consetudinis ordine praetermisso missam sine orariis audeant dicere, et quod in sollemnibus martyrum reliquias suo collo inponant et in sellulis non ab aliis se portandos nisi ab albatis diaconibus credant. [...]

Canon 3

Ne sacerdos sine orario missam audeat celebrare.

Quum antiqua et ecclesiastica noverimus institutione praefixum, ut omnis sacerdos quum ordinatur orario utroque humero ambiatur, scilicet ut qui imperturbatus praecipitur consistere inter prospera et adversa virtutum semper ornamento utrobique circumseptus appareat, qua ratione tempore sacrificii non adsumat quod se in sacramento accepisse non dubitat. Proinde modis omnibus convenit, ut quod quisque percepit in consecratione honoris hoc retentet in oblationem vel perceptionem suae salutis; scilicet ut quum sacerdos ad sollemnia missarum accedit aut per se Deo sacrificium oblaturus aut sacramentum corporis et sanguinis domini nostri Iesu Christi sumturus non aliter accedat quam orario utroque humero circumseptus, sicut et tempore ordinatorionis suae dinoscitur consecratus, ita ut de uno eodemque orario cervicem pariter et utrumque humerum premens signum in suo pectore praeferat crucis. Si quis autem aliter egerit, excomunicationi debitae subiacebit.

(ed. Vives 1963: 374-375)

From the summary of the cases on which the synodal fathers decided:

[...] On some priests also it is said that having neglected the customary order they dared to celebrate mass without a stole (orarium), and in the sollemnities of the martyrs they append the relics on their necks and believe that they shall be carried in their seats by no other but deacons wearing albs. [...]

Canon 3

That a priest dare not celebrate [mass] without a stole.

Since we know that it is fixed by the ecclesiastical disposition that every priest receives in the act of ordination a stole which he wears on both shoulders so that he who is instructed to remain undisturbed in prosperity and adversity surrounded from both sides by the ornament of virtues, for what reason the priest would not wear in the time of sacrifice that which he undoubtedly received for himself in the sacrament [of ordination]? Therefore it is proper to observe by all means that one shall have during the offering (that is while he receives his salvation) what he received on the consecration to his honour. So, when the priest approaches to the solemnity of mass or is about to offer the sacrifice to God, or to consume the sacrament of the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, he shall have the stole on both shoulders, just as when he was consecrated in the time of his ordination so that the stole hanging down over neck on both shoulders made a sign of the cross on the chest of the priest. If someone does otherwise, let him be subjected to due excommunication.

(trans. M. Szada)

Discussion:

The summary of Canon 3 is combined into one with Canon 5 which chastises only the bishops (and not bishops and presbyters) for the reproachable practices with the relics. Therefore, the term sacerdos has a double meaning in this phrase. In reference to the tenor of Canon 3 it means all the clerics that are allowed to celebrate mass (that is bishops and presbyters), and in reference to Canon 5 it means only the bishops.

The phrase "the stole hanging down over neck on both shoulders made a sign of the cross on the chest of the priest" means that the stole shall be crossed on the chest. The canon does distinguish here between the bishops and the presbyters, unlike later medieval tradition (wearing the stole uncrossed was the privilege of the bishops). For the custom of receiving the stole upon ordination see [440].

Place of event:

Region

Iberian Peninsula

City

Braga

About the source:

Title: Third Council of Braga in 675 AD, 3rd Council of Braga, III Concilium Bracarense a. 675, Concilium III Bracarense, Concilium Bracarense tertium a. 675
Origin: Braga (Iberian Peninsula)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

The provincial council of Galicia in AD 675 was convoked by King Wamba (672–80) and was presided over by Bishop Leudigisius of Braga (Iberian Peninsula). It was attended by seven other bishops.

Edition:

J. Vives ed., Concilios visigóticos e hispano-romanos, Barcelona-Madrid 1963.

Categories:

Described by a title - Sacerdos/ἱερεύς

Act of ordination

Ritual activity - Eucharist

Ritual activity - Liturgical vestments

Ritual activity - Procession

Public law - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Excommunication/Anathema

Equal prerogatives of presbyters and bishops

Devotion - Veneration of saints and relics

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1044, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1044