The Presbyters Project

Canon 20

De munificentiis uero sacerdotum id obseruandum, ut, si quid praesenti tempore a clericis de decidentum muneficentiis habetur uel possedetor, deinceps a successoribus nullatenus auferatur, ita ut, qui decessorum largitatibus gaudent, officia ecclesiae, obidientiam et affectum sacerdotebus praebeant. De quibus tamen munificentiis, quae praesenti tempore ab his, sicut dictum est, possedentur, si pro oportunitate episcopo placuerit, quod uoluerit, cummotare, sine accipientis dispendio in locis aliis cummotetur. De munificentiis uero praesentibus, quas unusquis clericis pro sua gratia eorum obsequiis extimat conferendas, sicut in arbitrio dantis est, ut tribuere, quibus uoluerit, debeat, ita, si inobidientia uel contumacia in aliquo accipientis exteterit, culpa agnita in arbitrio sit presedentis, utrum uel qualiter debeat reuocari.

(ed. de Clercq 1963: 121-122)

Canon 20

Concerning the generous endowments (munificentia) of priests (sacerdotes, in this case: bishops), this should be observed, that, if a cleric owns or possesses at present something [he had obtained owing to] the munificence of deceased priests, he should not be afterwards stripped of it by their successors, just as those, who enjoy the endowments of the deceased, should fulfill their duties to the Church and express obedience and affection to the priests. As to the endowments which are at present in the possession of those mentioned above, if it is convenient for a bishop, he can exchange it for another one as long as it would not be to the detriment of the person who had previously received it. Concerning the present endowments, which some [priest] may consider granting to the clerics for their services to express his gratitude, it should be left to the decision of the giver to bestow it to whomsoever he wishes. However, if the recipient is found to be disobedient or arrogant, and his crime is realised, the current [bishop] will decide, if and to what extent [this endowment] should be revoked.

(trans. J. Szafranowski)

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Orléans

About the source:

Title: Third Council of Orléans, Concilium Aurelianense III anno 538
Origin: Orléans (Gaul)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

This council convened on 7 May 538 in Orléans gathered five metropolitans, fourteen other bishops, and seven presbyters representing their bishops. They all came from the kingdoms of Childebert I or Theuderic I. No bishop from the kingdom of Clothar I participated. Apart from the Council of Agde (AD 506), this is the only one from this period that gathered a metropolitan bishop from every region represented in the synod by a bishop or a presbyter. The council was presided by metropolitan bishop of Lyon, all of whose suffragans were present. Similarly, all bishops from the metropolitan province of Rouen attended the synod.

Edition:

C. de Clercq ed., Concilia Galliae a. 511-a. 695, Corpus Christianorum. Series Latina 148 A, Turnhout 1963.

Translation:

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

Economic status and activity - Inheritance

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

Administration of justice - Ecclesiastical

Livelihood/income

Administration of justice - Financial punishment

Private law - Ecclesiastical

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1319, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1319