登陆注册
4699400000077

第77章

Meanwhile the council was still engaged in discussing the authority of the bishops. On the ground that the Fathers should define at one and the same time both the rights of the bishops and the rights of the Holy See Cardinal Guise, who represented the Gallican school of thought, brought forward certain proposals highly derogatory to the prerogatives of the Pope. In face of this counter-move the legates were firm but conciliatory. They pointed out that the whole question of the jurisdiction of the Holy See had been decided already by the Council of Florence and that the decrees of Florence could not be watered down at Trent. On this question the Italian bishops found themselves supported by the vast majority of the Spanish, Austro-German and Portuguese representatives; but in deference to the request of the Pope, who wished that nothing should be defined unless with the unanimous consent of the Fathers, and to the feelings of the French, whose secession from the council was anticipated, it was agreed to issue no decree on the subject. As the supreme authority of the Pope had been recognised implicitly by the council[6] no definition was required.

As a result of the negotiations inside and outside the council it was possible to hold the 23rd public session on the 15th July 1563. In this it was defined that the priesthood of the New Law was instituted by Christ, that there were seven orders in the Church about two of which, the priesthood (/de sacerdotibus/) and the diaconate (/de diaconis/) express mention is made in the Scriptures, that the bishops who have succeeded to the place of the Apostles pertain especially to the hierarchy and are superior to priests, that neither the consent of the people nor of the civil power is necessary for the valid reception of orders, and that bishops who are appointed by the authority of the Roman Pontiff are true bishops.[7] The question whether the duty of episcopal residence is /de jure divino/, about which such a protracted and heated controversy had been waged, was settled amicably by deciding that the bishops as pastors are bound by divine command to know their flocks, and that they cannot do this unless they reside in their dioceses. At this session there were present four cardinals, three patriarchs, twenty-five archbishops and one hundred and ninety-three bishops.

Many of the bishops were anxious to return to their dioceses, and nearly all of them hoped for a speedy conclusion of the council. The Pope, the Emperor, and the King of France were in agreement, though for different reasons, in endeavouring to dissolve the assembly as soon as possible. The sacrament of Matrimony was next proposed for discussion. The French party wished that marriages contracted without the consent of the parents as well as clandestine marriages should be declared invalid, but the council refused to make the validity of marriage dependent upon parental consent. In deference to the wishes of Venice, which stood in close relation to the Greeks, it was agreed to define merely that the Church does not err when she states in accordance with the apostolic and evangelic teaching that the bond of marriage is not broken by adultery. In the 24th public session (11th Nov. 1563) the decrees on Matrimony were proclaimed.

The greatest anxiety was displayed on all sides to bring the work to a conclusion. The action of the papal legates in proposing that the interference of Catholic rulers in ecclesiastical affairs should be considered and if necessary reformed did not tend to delay the dissolution. The princes were most anxious to reform the Pope and clergy, but they were determined not to allow any weakening of their own so-called prerogatives. In accordance with the general desire the addresses were cut short, and so rapid was the progress made that the last public session was held on the 3rd and 4th December 1563. The decrees on Purgatory, on the honour to be paid to relics and images of Saints and on Indulgences were passed. It was agreed, furthermore, that in regard to fast days and holidays the usage of the Roman Church should be followed, and that the Holy See should undertake the preparation of a new edition of the missal and breviary. The decrees that had been passed under Paul III. and Julius III. were read and approved. The legates were requested to obtain the approval of the Holy Father for the decisions of the council, and Cardinal Guise in the name of the bishops returned thanks to the Pope, the Emperor, the ambassadors of the Catholic nations, and to the legates. Finally the Fathers subscribed their names to the acts of the council. There were then present six cardinals, three patriarchs, twenty-five archbishops, one hundred and sixty-seven bishops, and nineteen procurators.

The Council of Trent met in peculiarly difficult circumstances, and it carried on its work in face of great opposition and disappointments.

同类推荐
  • 种芝草法

    种芝草法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 六十颂如理论

    六十颂如理论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 东山存稿

    东山存稿

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 神灸经纶

    神灸经纶

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 元始天尊说梓童帝君应验经

    元始天尊说梓童帝君应验经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 生命的遐想

    生命的遐想

    未来,我们的地球将会变成什么样,地球上的动物又会变成什么样呢?你一定觉得这是个非常有意思的问题。生物进化是有规律的,可这条规律是什么?这就得问问科学家了。《生命的遐想》就是带着大家来和科学家座谈聊天,看看鱼将来能不能变成鸟在天上飞,乌贼会不会上岸变成陆地统治者,大猩猩会不会变得像人一样聪明……
  • 可以没脾气不能没骨气

    可以没脾气不能没骨气

    无论何时,都要学会控制自己的情绪和脾气,当我们对生活的失败大发脾气的时候,也就失去了自己的沉稳和坚毅,就容易迷失自己。脾气暴躁,会给我们带来很多意想不到的麻烦,甚至会使我们走向失败。不急不躁、不怨天尤人、不轻易发怒是良好的品质,一个做事光明磊落、生气蓬勃、令人愉悦的人,到处受欢迎。自制力强、冷静沉着的人往往比焦虑万分的人更容易应付各种困难、解决各种矛盾。切记:控制脾气拿出骨气,就会改变命运!
  • 国初群雄事略

    国初群雄事略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 妖妃天下

    妖妃天下

    苏黛也穿越了。人家都是穿在王候将相的府上,她可倒好,直接穿成一具白骨,结果却被一个少年埋在花冢之中。天总算不绝人,终于借住白狐的力量投胎了,可是,为什么一出生就被人视为妖怪?
  • 暗恋之魂

    暗恋之魂

    死亡并不是人类的威胁,真正威胁人类的是邪恶内心!
  • 火影之瞳鮎

    火影之瞳鮎

    在遇见你之前,我并不知道存在的意义,可遇见你之后,我的生命里全部是你。鼬哥,如果你一定要走这条路,那么至少,让我陪在你的身边好吗?
  • 六宫无妃

    六宫无妃

    水莲乃一介宫女,无奈曾在太后身前当差,更代替太后礼佛多年,可谓红人一个,人称太后身边最有心计女。只因新帝和太后不和,回宫后即清扫太后余党,忖也是迟早的事情,因此从逃宫未遂到李代桃僵,从假怀龙种到非礼王爷。她最终成为天子元宏的小魔头,独一无二。但作为一个女人,水莲再是心计和潇洒,仍逃不过一个女人对宠爱渐失的恐惧,因为她的爱人是王,拥有天下,也属于天下人,醋妒的滋长,最终由爱生恨,鸳梦跌到谷底。就在失魂落魄,生命之光几近燃尽的时刻,另一个男人再次站到她身边——三王爷元嘉,水莲是他的小娇娃,举世无双。尽管水莲对他百般辜负……然实际却是两个此生不能相守的人不约而同地为彼此走上不同的战场。
  • 顾曲杂言

    顾曲杂言

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 世界最具震撼性的战争故事(2)

    世界最具震撼性的战争故事(2)

    我的课外第一本书——震撼心灵阅读之旅经典文库,《阅读文库》编委会编。通过各种形式的故事和语言,讲述我们在成长中需要的知识。
  • 霸天武神

    霸天武神

    十万年前统治九天十地的将王皇朝崩塌,将王陨落,三大战将战死,血染九天十地!十万年后,三大战将之首李潇重生。身怀前世记忆,修炼无上功法,在这个万族鼎立,天才争锋,恢弘浩荡的世界中,镇万族,踏天骄,登天路,破苍穹!天地无间,唯我霸天!