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DECREE FOR THE
PROROGATION OF THE SESSION
This sacred and holy, ecumenical and general
Synod, which lately was assembled in the city of Trent, and is now lawfully assembled
in the Holy Ghost at Bologna, the same most reverend Lords Giammaria del Monte,
bishop of Palaestrina, and Marcellus, of the title of the Holy Cross in
Jerusalem, priest, - Page 69 -
cardinals of the holy Roman
Church, and Legates apostolic a latere, presiding therein in the name of our
most holy Father in Christ, and Lord, Paul III., by the providence of God,
Pope; considering that, on the eleventh day of the month of March of the
present year, in a general and public Session celebrated in the said city of
Trent, in the usual place, all the formalities being observed in the usual
manner; (the Synod) ,-for causes then pressing, urgent, and legitimate, and
with the interposition also of the authority of the holy Apostolic See,
specially also granted to the said most reverend Presidents,-decreed and
ordained, that the Council was to be transferred, as it did transfer it, from
that place to this city, and likewise that the Session,-indicted there for this
twenty-first day of April, that Canons touching the matters of the Sacraments
and of Reformation, whereon It had purposed to treat, might be established and
promulgated,-ought to be celebrated in this city of Bologna; and considering
that some of the Fathers who have been accustomed to be present at this
Council,-being some engaged in their own Churches during these last days of the
great week (of Lent), and of the Paschal solemnity, and some also detained by
other hindrances, -have not as yet come hither, but who nevertheless, it is to
be hoped, will shortly be present; and that, from this cause, it has happened
that the said matters of the Sacraments and of Reformation could not be
examined and discussed in an assembly of prelates as numerous as the holy Synod
desired: wherefore, to the end that all things may be done with mature
deliberation, with due dignity and gravity, (the Synod) hath resolved, and doth
resolve, that it is good, opportunie, and expedient, that the aforenamed
Session, which, as has been said, was to have been celebrated on this day, be
deferred and prorogued, as it is now deferred and prorogued, to the Thursday
within the approaching octave of Pentecost, for the expediting of the matters
aforesaid; which day It has deemed, and deems, to be most opportune for the
business to be transacted, and most convenient especially for the Fathers who
are absent; adding however, that this holy Synod may and can, even in a private
congregation, limit and abridge the said term, at Its will and pleasure, as It
shall think expedient for the business of the Council.
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