Folia Canonica 5. (2002)

STUDIES - Szabolcs Anzelm Szuromi: The Development of the Clerical Orders prior to the Discipline of Statuta Ecclesiae Antique (5th Century)

100

SZABOLCS ANZELM SZUROMI

II. The Ecclesiastical Disciplines concerning the clerical state,

ESPECIALLY THE CANONS OF THE STATUTA ECCLESIAE ANTIQUA

A characteristic of the clerical state was the singling out for sacred office and ordination, as is explained in the Statuta Ecclesiae Antiqua (476-485), written very possibly by bishop Gennadius of Marseille.30

It seems clear from the Statuta Ecclesiae Antiqua that the bishop has constitutive powers in the assigning of each order, and therefore, the introduction of this canon law collection sees the introduction of the qualities which are important for the bishop’s consecration. There is also a creed which had to be accepted by the applicant.31 The examination of the qualities and the profession of the creed took place in the presence of clerics, laity, and the bishops of the province, especially the metropolitan.32

quibus ordinati sunt et ad alia <loca> se transferunt, placuit ut his locis ministrent; quod si relictis locis suis ad alium se locum transferre uoluerint, deponatur.” C. Munier (ed.), Concilia Galliae a. 314-a. 506 (Corpus Christianorum. Series Latina 148), Tumholti 1963. 13.

30 Edition: Munier (ed.), Concilia Galliae (nt. 25), 162-188. cf. B. Botte, Le rituel des ordinations dans les „Statuta ecclesiae antiqua" in Revue Théologique ancienne et médiévale XI (1979) 212—229. C. VOGEL, Ordinations inconsistantes et caractère inamissible, Torino 1978.

31 „Qui episcopus ordinandus est, ante examinetur si natura prudens est, si docibilis, si moribus temperatus, si uita castus, si sobrius, si semper sui negotii, si humilibus affibilis, si misericors, si litteratus, si in lege Domini instructus, si in scripturarum sensibus cautus, si in dogmatibus ecclesiasticis exercitatus, et ante omnia si fidei documenta uerbis simplicibus asserat, idest Patrem et Filium et Spiritum sanctum unum Deum esse confirmans, totamque in Trinitate deitatem coessentialem et consubstantialem et coatemalem et coomnipotentem praedicans, si singulam quamque in Trinitate personam plenum Deum et totas tres personas unum Deum; esse confirmans, totamque in Trinitate deitatem coesentialem et consubstantialem et coaetemalem et coomnipotentem praedicans, sisingulam quamque in Trinitate personam plenum Deum et totas tres personas unum Deum (...) Quaerendum etiam ab eo si credat huius quam gestamus et non alterius camis resurrectionem, si credat iudicium futurum et recepturos singulos pro his quae in hac came gesserunt uel poenas uel glorias, si nuptias non improbet, si secunda matrimonia non damnet, si carnium perceptionem non culpet, si paenitentibus reconciliatis communicet, si in baptismo omnia peccata, idest tam illud originale contractum quam illa quae uoluntare ad missa sunt dimittantur, si ectra ecclesiam catholicam nullus saluetur.” Munier (ed.), Concilia Galliae (nt. 25), 164-165.

32 „Cum in his omnibus examinatus inuentus fuerit plene instructus, tunc consensu clericorum et laicorum et conuentu totius prouinciae episcoporum, maximeque metropolitani uel auctoritate uel praesentia ordinetur episcopus, suscepto in nomine Christi episcopatu, non suae delectationi nec suis motibus, sed his patrum definitionibus adquiescat.” Munier (ed.), Concilia Galliae (nt. 25), 165-166.