The Presbyters Project

[Capitulum secundum cod. A] XIV. De clericis qui intra muros conmaneant.

Clericus quem intra muros ciuitatis suae manere constiterit et a matutinis hymnis sine probabili excusatione aegritudinis inuentus fuerit defuisse, septem diebus a communione habeatur extraneus: quia ministrum sacrorum eo tempore quo non potest ab officio suo ulla honesta necessitas occupare, fas non est a salubri deuotione cessare.

(ed. Munier 1963: 155, 158)

[Title according to cod. A] XIV. On clerics who remain within the walls.

If a cleric remains within the walls of his city and is found absent from the matins without a plausible excuse of sickness, he will be banned from communion for seven days. For it is not lawful for a minister of sacred things – at a time when no vital necessity should prevent him from his office – to refrain from the salutary prayer.

(trans. J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

One could argue that the excommunication for a period of seven days is proof of the practice of the daily Eucharist. However, it could also mean that the synodal fathers wanted to be sure that, regardless of the day the offence took place, the offender would be banned from the Sunday Eucharist.

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Vannes

About the source:

Title: Council of Vannes, Concilium Veneticum anno 461/491
Origin: Vannes (Gaul)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

This council took place in Vannes in Brittany sometime between 461 and 491. The acts of this synod are known from the letter which the synodal fathers – six bishops, with the Bishop Perpetuus of Tours mentioned in first place – have sent to the absent Bishops Victor and Thalasius. The main cause for the episcopal gathering was the ordination of Paternus to the bishopric of Vannes.

Edition:

Ch. Munier ed., Concilia Galliae a. 314-a. 506, Corpus Christianorum. Series Latina 148, Turnhoult 1963.

Categories:

Described by a title - Clericus

Ritual activity - Divine office/Liturgy of the hours

Public law - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Excommunication/Anathema

Ritual activity - Daily mass

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER859, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=859