The Presbyters Project

VII. Ut de baptizatis nullus accipiat praemium.

Placuit ut unusquisque episcopus per ecclesias suas hoc praecipiat, ut hi qui infantes suos ad baptismum offerunt, si quid voluntarie pro suo offerunt voto, suscipiatur ab eis. Si vero per necessitatem paupertatis aliquid non habent quod offerant, nullum illis pignus violenter tollatur a clericis. Nam multi pauperes hoc timentes filios suos a baptismo retrahunt, qui si forte dum differunt sine gratia baptismi de hac vita recesserint, necesse est ut ab illis eorum perditio requiratur, quorum exspolia pertimescentes a baptismi se gratia retraxerunt.

(ed. Barlowe 1950: 121)

VII. That no payment shall be accepted from the baptised.

It pleased us that bishops shall observe in their churches the following rule: if those who brought their children for baptism give something out of their own will, let it be accepted. If, however, they do not have anything to offer because of poverty, clerics shall not take anything from them as a pledge. A lot of poor people are afraid of this and do not baptise their children. If perchance these children die without the grace of baptism, these clerics will be guilty of their perdition, because the parents, having feared of being charged beyond their means by the clerics, deprived their children of the grace of baptism.

(trans. by M. Szada)

Place of event:

Region

Iberian Peninsula

City

Braga

About the source:

Title: Second Council of Braga 572, Concilium Bracarense a. 572, II Concilium Bracarense, Concilium Bracarense secundum
Origin: Braga (Iberian Peninsula)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

The Second Council of Braga was held in AD 572, eight years after the first. Presiding over the council was the metropolitan bishop of Braga, Martin, but also another metropolitan bishop was present - Nitigisius of Lugo. The province of Galicia had been divided in two regions (six dioceses in the each new province) some time before the second council. The Second Council was held under the auspices of the Suevic king, Miro (Barlowe 1950: 82-83).

It has been suggested that Martin of Braga wrote the minutes of both councils. There are no conclusive arguments, but some linguistic evidence in favour of Martin`s authorship was presented by the editor, C. Barlowe (1950: 83).

Edition:

Edition:

Concilium Bracarense secundum, in C. Barlowe ed., Martini episcopi Bracarensis opera omnia, New Haven 1950

Bibliography:

C. Barlowe ed., Martini episcopi Bracarensis opera omnia, New Haven 1950

Categories:

Described by a title - Clericus

Ritual activity - Baptism and instructing catechumens

Economic status and activity

Livelihood/income

Devotion - Donations and offerings

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER332, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=332