Dist. 37
Book IV: On the Sacraments · Distinction 37
Cap. I.
In quibus ordinibus nequeat contrahi matrimonium.
Sunt igitur quidam ordines, in quibus nullatenus potest contrahi coniugium, et si intercesserit copula, fit divortium, ut sacerdotium, diaconatus et subdiaconatus. In aliis vero permittitur sortiri coniugium, nisi religionis habitum sumserint, vel votum continentiae fecerint. Unde Leo Papa1: « Clericos, lectores, ostiarios, exorcistas, acolythos, si extra votum et habitum inveniuntur et continentiam profiteri nolunt, uxorem ducere virginem Ecclesia Romana permittit, non viduam, vel repudiatam; quia deinceps nec ad subdiaconatum provehi poterunt, nec laicus uxorem sortitus non virginem, vel bigamus ad clericatum ». Item ex Carthaginensi Concilio2: « Placuit episcopos, presbyteros, diaconos, subdiaconos etiam ab uxoribus abstinere; quod si non fecerint, etiam ab ecclesiastico removeantur officio; ceteros vero clericos ad hoc non cogit ». Item Leo Papa3: « Lex continentiae eadem est ministris altaris, quae episcopis et presbyteris; qui, cum essent laici, vel lectores, licite uxores ducere potuerunt; sed cum ad praedictos pervenerunt gradus, coepit eis non licere quod licuit ». Item in sexta Synodo: « Si quis eorum qui ad clerum accedunt, voluerit nuptiali lege mulieri copulari; hoc ante ordinem subdiaconatus faciat ».
Notula. Item Calixtus Papa1: « Presbyteris, diaconibus, subdiaconibus et monachis concubinas habere, seu matrimonium contrahere penitus interdicimus; contracta quoque matrimonia ab huiusmodi personis disiungi, et personas ad poenitentiam debere redigi, iuxta sacrorum canonum definitionem iudicamus ». Item Gregorius: « Nullum facere subdiaconum episcopi praesumant, nisi qui se caste victurum promiserit; quia nullus debet ad ministerium altaris accedere, nisi cuius castitas ante susceptum ministerium fuerit approbata ».
Cap. II.
De interfectoribus suarum coniugum.
His adiiciendum est de occisoribus suarum coniugum; de quibus Nicolaus Papa2 scribit Radulpho Bituricensi archiepiscopo: « Interfectores suarum coniugum sine iudicio, cum non addis adulterarum, vel aliquid huiusmodi, quid aliud habendi sunt quam homicidae? Ac per hoc ad poenitentiam redigendi; quibus penitus denegatur coniugium ». « Hic videtur Nicolaus permittere maritis pro adulterio, aut alio huiusmodi uxores suas interficere; sed ecclesiastica disciplina spirituali gladio, non materiali, criminosos ferire iubet ». Unde idem Nicolaus3: « Inter haec vestra sanctitas addere studuit, si cuius uxor adulterium perpetraverit, utrum marito eius liceat secundum mundanam legem interficere? Sed sancta Dei Ecclesia nunquam mundanis constringitur legibus, gladium non habet nisi spiritualem ». Item Pius Papa: « Quicumque propriam uxorem absque lege et sine causa interfecerit aliamque duxerit, armis depositis, publicam agat poenitentiam, et si contumax exstiterit, anathematizetur, usquequo consentiat ».
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Cap. I.
In which orders marriage cannot be contracted.
There are, therefore, certain orders in which marriage can in no way be contracted, and if intercourse has intervened, a divorce is made — namely the priesthood, the diaconate, and the subdiaconate. In the others, however, it is permitted to obtain marriage, unless they have taken up the habit of religion, or have made a vow of continence. Whence Pope Leo1: "Clerics, lectors, doorkeepers, exorcists, acolytes — if they are found outside a vow and the habit and are unwilling to profess continence — the Roman Church permits to take a virgin to wife, not a widow or a woman repudiated; because thereafter neither can they be promoted to the subdiaconate, nor can a layman who has obtained a wife who is not a virgin, or a twice-married man, [be promoted] to the clerical state." Likewise from the Council of Carthage2: "It has been resolved that bishops, presbyters, deacons, and also subdeacons abstain from their wives; and if they shall not have done so, let them be removed even from ecclesiastical office; but the remaining clerics it does not compel to this." Likewise Pope Leo3: "The law of continence is the same for the ministers of the altar as for bishops and presbyters; who, when they were laymen or lectors, were able lawfully to take wives; but when they arrived at the aforesaid grades, that began to be unlawful for them which had been lawful." Likewise in the Sixth Synod: "If any of those who approach the clergy shall wish to be joined to a woman by the law of marriage, let him do this before the order of the subdiaconate."
A little note. Likewise Pope Calixtus1: "We altogether forbid presbyters, deacons, subdeacons, and monks to have concubines or to contract marriage; and marriages contracted by persons of this kind we judge, according to the definition of the sacred canons, ought to be dissolved, and the persons brought back to penance." Likewise Gregory: "Let them not presume to make anyone a subdeacon of a bishop, except one who has promised that he will live chastely; because no one ought to approach the ministry of the altar unless his chastity has been approved before he undertook the ministry."
Cap. II.
On those who kill their own wives.
To these must be added the matter of the slayers of their own wives; concerning whom Pope Nicholas2 writes to Radulf, archbishop of Bourges: "Those who kill their own wives without a trial — since you do not add 'adulterous women,' or anything of this kind — what else are they to be held than homicides? And on this account they are to be brought back to penance; and marriage is altogether denied them." "Here Nicholas seems to permit husbands to kill their own wives for adultery, or for another thing of this kind; but ecclesiastical discipline bids that the criminal be struck with the spiritual sword, not the material one." Whence the same Nicholas3: "Amid these matters your holiness took care to add: if anyone's wife has committed adultery, whether it is lawful for her husband to kill her according to worldly law? But the holy Church of God is never bound by worldly laws; it has no sword but the spiritual." Likewise Pope Pius: "Whoever kills his own wife without law and without cause and marries another, let him lay aside his arms and do public penance; and if he proves contumacious, let him be anathematized, until he complies."
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- 1Can. Seriatim (14.), dist. 32.Canon Seriatim (14.), dist. 32.
- 2Scil. quinto c. 3, C. Placuit (13.), ibid. Sed vocabulum subdiaconos deest in editione Concilii cit. et insertum est a Gratiano. — Pro cogit Vat. cum canone et originali cogi.Namely [the] fifth [Council of Carthage], c. 3; C. Placuit (13), ibid. But the word subdiaconos ("subdeacons") is absent in the edition of the Council cited, and was inserted by Gratian. — For cogit ("it compels") the Vatican edition, with the canon and the original, [reads] cogi ("to be compelled").
- 3Epist. 167. (alias 2.) ad Rustic. Narbon. inquisit. 3; C. Lex continentiae (10.), dist. 31. Seq. locus est C. Si quis eorum (7.), dist. 32.Letter 167 (alias 2) to Rusticus of Narbonne, inquiry 3; C. Lex continentiae (10), dist. 31. The following passage is C. Si quis eorum (7), dist. 32.
- 1Can. Presbyteris (8.), d. 27. Seq. locus est I. Regest. indict. 9, epist. 44. (alias 42.) ad Petrum subdiaconum; C. Nullum facere (1.), d. 28. — Notula deest in ed. 1; in codd. BC est in fine praecedentis dist. et in cod. B in margine a secunda manu; cod. D in fine addit: Innocentius II: Decrevimus, ut ii qui in ordine subdiaconatus et supra uxores duxerint, aut concubinas habuerint, officio et ecclesiastico beneficio careant. Cum enim ipsi templum Dei, vasa Domini, sacrarium Spiritus S. debeant esse et dici; indignum est, eos cubilibus et immunditiis servire (est C. Decernimus (2.), ibid.).Canon Presbyteris (8.), d. 27. The following passage is Register, indiction 9, letter 44 (alias 42) to Peter the subdeacon; C. Nullum facere (1.), d. 28. — The "Notula" is absent in ed. 1; in codices BC it stands at the end of the preceding distinction, and in codex B in the margin by a second hand; codex D adds at the end: Innocent II: "We have decreed that those who in the order of the subdiaconate and above have taken wives, or have kept concubines, be deprived of office and of ecclesiastical benefice. For since they themselves ought to be, and to be called, the temple of God, the vessels of the Lord, the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit, it is unworthy that they should serve beds and uncleannesses" (this is C. Decernimus (2.), ibid.).
- 2Can. Interfectores (5.), C. 33. q. 2. Seq. locus est apud Gratian. super hunc can.Canon Interfectores (5.), C. 33, q. 2. The following passage is in Gratian, upon this canon.
- 3Can. Inter haec (6.), ibid. Ultimus locus est C. Quicumque propriam (7.), ibid.Canon Inter haec (6.), ibid. The last passage is C. Quicumque propriam (7.), ibid. ---