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SUMMARY. Prelates and clerics
are commanded in virtue of obedience to celebrate diligently and devoutly the
diurnal and nocturnal offices.
Text: It is a matter for
regret that there are some minor clerics and even prelates who spend half of
the night in banqueting and in unlawful gossip, not to mention other abuses,
and in giving the remainder to sleep. They are scarcely awakened by the diurnal
concerts of the birds. Then they hasten through matins in a hurried and
careless manner. There are others who say mass scarcely four times a year and,
what is worse, do not even attend mass, and when they are present they are
engaged outside in conversation with lay people to escape the silence of the
choir; so that, while they readily lend their ears to unbecoming talk, they
regard with utter indifference things that are divine. These and all similar
things, therefore, ,we absolutely forbid under penalty of suspension, and
strictly command in virtue of obedience that they celebrate diligently and
devoutly the diurnal and nocturnal offices so far as God gives them strength.
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