This also pleased: that those congregations which have never had their own bishops should by no means receive one, unless it has been decreed by a plenary council of each province and of the primate, and with the consent of him to whose diocese that same Church belonged. Concerning the congregations or dioceses converted from the Donatists. XCIX. Indeed, let those congregations which have been converted from the Donatists, and have undoubtedly had bishops, deserve to have them, even though the council was not consulted; but those congregations which had a bishop, and, after his death, shall have wished not to have their own bishop, but to belong to the diocese of some bishop, this is not to be denied them.
This too was suggested: that, as for the congregations which, before the law of the emperor concerning unity was passed, whatever bishops converted them to the Catholic Church, those bishops ought to retain them; but from the law of unity, and thenceforth, all the Churches ought to vindicate for themselves Catholic bishops of those places which used to belong under the heretics—whether of those converted to the Catholic Church, or of heretics not converted—and the dioceses, and any instruments perchance belonging to the Church or pertaining to its right. But those who have usurped anything, let them restore what was usurped after the law, when called to account. Concerning the suggestion of Bishop Maurentius. C.
At the suggestion or petition of Bishop Maurentius, when the document which Bishop Placentinus—who bears the person of legate of the Numidias—had presented was read, the opinion of that same Placentinus was recited in the sight of the bishops; and when those whom he wished to be present were sought by the deacons at the doors—that is, the elders from Nova Germania—and were by no means found, having been sought a second and a third time: therefore the holy council judged that letters be sent in advance to that same aged Xantippus, so that he might know that in no way ought injury to be done to the bishop by yielding to the will of the aforesaid congregation. Bishop Maurentius said:
Since the elders from Nova Germania were sought a second and a third time and were not found—those to whom it had been commanded by the primate that they should present themselves at the venerable council which is now being held on the Ides of June—they procured their own absence: therefore let Your Holiness decree something out of this matter, lest under the trouble of calumny I, innocent, should seem to labour. The holy council determined that, according to the priestly censure, a sentence indeed ought to have been pronounced from this council against the contumacious:
but because ecclesiastical gentleness is to be preserved in all cases, letters were promised to the aged Xantippus, so that the judges chosen from the council might know that they ought without delay to take the matter under consideration in the city of Thubursicum, so that an examination suited to the business might be applied. Bishop Maurentius said: As judges I ask for the holy aged Xantippus, holy Augustine, Florentius, Theasius, Sansucius, Secundus, and Posidius; command these to be appointed for me. The holy council granted the judges petitioned for; but as for the remaining judges necessary to complete the number, the aged Xantippus took care to appoint them, the very elders from Nova Germania doing the choosing. Concerning the making of peace between the Roman and Alexandrian Churches. CI.
It pleased also that, concerning the dissension of the Roman and Alexandrian Churches, a letter be written to the holy Pope Innocent, so that each Church may keep within itself the peace which the Lord commanded. Concerning those who dismiss their wives, or who leave their husbands, that they should so remain. CII. It pleased that, according to the evangelical and apostolic discipline, neither a man dismissed by his wife, nor a woman dismissed by her husband, be joined to another, but that they so remain, or be reconciled to one another: and if they shall have despised this, let them be reduced to penance; in which cause an imperial law is to be petitioned to be promulgated. Concerning the prayers to be said at the altar. CIII.
This also pleased: that the prayers which have been approved in council—whether prefaces, or commendations, or impositions of hands—be celebrated by all, nor let any others at all be brought forward contrary to the faith, but let whatever have been collected by the more prudent be said. Concerning those who shall have petitioned from the emperor the cognizance of public judgments. CIV. It pleased that whoever shall have sought from the emperor the cognizance of public judgments be deprived of his proper honour; but if he shall have requested an episcopal judgment from the emperor, let nothing be held against him. Concerning those who, when they do not commune in Africa, shall have wished to creep across the sea surreptitiously. CV.
But whoever does not commune in Africa, if he shall have crept surreptitiously into the regions across the sea in order to commune, let him incur the loss of his clerical office. That those proceeding to the court should take care to make their case known either to the Carthaginian or to the Roman pontiff. CVI. It pleased that whoever shall have wished to go to the court be noted in a letter of recommendation by which he is sent to the Church of the city of Rome: so that thence he may also receive a letter of recommendation to the court. But if, receiving a letter of recommendation only to Rome and keeping silent about the necessity by which he must proceed to the court, he shall nevertheless wish to proceed to the court, let him be removed from communion.
但他若在羅馬那裡突然生出前往朝廷的必要,就讓他在羅馬城的主教面前陳明此必要,並讓他將那位羅馬主教關於此事的書面證明帶去。但都主教或任何主教給其本堂神職人員的薦書,當註上復活節的日期:若那一年的復活節之日尚不確定,就附上前一年的,正如公文中慣於加上「執政官任後」(after the consulship)一樣。此事也得眾意贊同:對抗多納特派與外邦人,或其迷信,從此榮耀的會議所差遣的使節,可從至榮的諸位君王求得凡他們所見為有益的事。
But if there, at Rome, a sudden necessity of proceeding to the court shall have arisen for him, let him allege that same necessity before the bishop of the city of Rome, and let him carry the written attestation of that same Roman bishop concerning this. But the letters of recommendation which are given by the primates or by any bishops to their own clerics are to bear the date of Easter: and if as yet the day of Easter of that same year is uncertain, let the preceding one be appended, in the manner in which 'after the consulship' is wont to be added in the public records. This also pleased: that against the Donatists and pagans, or their superstitions, the legates sent from this glorious council may obtain from the most glorious princes whatever they shall have perceived to be useful.
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Placuitetiampetituomniumepiscoporum, utepistolisomnibusdeconciliodandissanctitastuasolasubscribat. Etsubscripserunt. AureliusepiscopusCarthaginensishuicdecretoconsensi, etprælectosubscripsi. Similiteretcæteriepiscopisubscripserunl. Conciliumcontrapaganosethæreticos. BassoetPhilippovv. cc. conss. XVIcat. JuliasCarthagine, insecretariobasilicærestitutæ. InhocconciliolegalionemiterumsuscepitFortunatianusepiscopuscontrapaganosethæreticos. Itemconciliumcontrapaganoselhæreticos. BassoetPhilippovv. cc. conss. IIIidusOctobrisCaithagine, insecretariobasilicxrestitutæ.
It pleased also, at the petition of all the bishops, that to all the letters to be given from the council Your Holiness alone subscribe. And they subscribed. 'I, Aurelius, bishop of Carthage, have consented to this decree, and have subscribed to what was read before me.' In like manner the other bishops also subscribed. Council against the pagans and heretics. In the consulship of Bassus and Philippus, most honourable men, on the sixteenth day before the Kalends of July, at Carthage, in the sacristy of the restored basilica. In this council Bishop Fortunatianus again undertook the legation against the pagans and heretics. Another council against the pagans and heretics. In the consulship of Bassus and Philippus, most honourable men, on the third day before the Ides of October, at Carthage, in the sacristy of the restored basilica.
In this council the bishops Restitutus and Florentius undertook the legation against the pagans and heretics, at the time when Severus and Macarius were slain, and on account of their cause the bishops Evodius, Theasius, and Victor were cut down. Council concerning the cognizance of a bishop. CVII. In the consulship of the most glorious emperors Honorius for the seventh time and Theodosius for the third time, both Augusti, on the seventeenth day before the Kalends of July, at Carthage, in the basilica of the second region. In this council it pleased that one bishop should not claim cognizance for himself alone. The acts of this council I have not transcribed, since it was a provincial, not a universal, council that was celebrated. Council against the Donatists. After the consulship of the most glorious emperors Honorius for the eighth time and Theodosius for the third time, both Augusti, on the eighteenth day before the Kalends.
Of July, at Carthage, in the basilica of the second region. In this council the bishops Florentius, Possidius, Praesidius, and Benenatus undertook the legation against the Donatists, at the time when the law was given that each one should embrace the worship of Christianity by free will. Council against the heresy of Pelagius and Caelestius. CVIII. In the consulship of the most glorious emperors Honorius for the twelfth time and Theodosius for the ninth time, both Augusti, on the Kalends of May, at Carthage, in the sacristy of the basilica of Faustus. When Bishop Aurelius had sat with the universal council, the deacons standing by, it pleased all the bishops, whose names and subscriptions have been entered, being established in the holy synod of the Carthaginian Church. That Adam was not made mortal by God. CIX.
That whoever says that Adam, the first man, was made mortal, so that whether he sinned or did not sin he would die in the body—that is, depart out of the body—not by the merit of sin, but by the necessity of nature, let him be anathema. That little children are baptized for the remission of sins. CX. Likewise it pleased that whoever denies that little children fresh from the wombs of their mothers are to be baptized, or says that they are indeed baptized for the remission of sins, but that they draw nothing of original sin from Adam which must be expiated by the laver of regeneration—whence it would follow that in them the form of baptism for the remission of sins is understood to be not true but false—let him be anathema. For the saying of the Apostle is to be understood in no other way:
'By one man sin entered into the world, and by sin death, and so it passed upon all men, in whom all have sinned' (Rom. 5:12)—except as the Catholic Church spread everywhere has always understood it. For on account of this rule of faith even little children, who could as yet commit nothing of sins in themselves, are therefore truly baptized for the remission of sins, so that in them by regeneration there may be cleansed what they have drawn by generation. That the grace of God not only bestows the remission of sins, but also affords aid that one may not sin. CXI.
Likewise it pleased that whoever shall have said that the grace of God, by which man is justified through Jesus Christ our Lord, avails only for the remission of sins which have already been committed, and not also for aid that they may not be committed, let him be anathema. That the grace of Christ not only bestows the knowledge of what we ought to do, but also inspires love in us, that we may be able to fulfil what we know. CXII. Likewise, whoever shall have said that the same grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord aids us toward not sinning only for this reason, that through it the understanding of the commandments is revealed and opened to us, so that we may know what we ought to seek and what to avoid:
but that it is not bestowed upon us through it that what we have recognized as to be done we should also love and be able to do—let him be anathema. For since the Apostle says, 'Knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies' (1 Cor. 8:1), it is exceedingly impious that we should believe we have the grace of Christ for that which puffs us up, but do not have it for that which edifies; since both are the gift of God, both to know what we ought to do and to love that we may do it, so that, with charity edifying, knowledge may not be able to puff up. And just as it is written of God, 'Who teaches man knowledge' (Ps. 93:10), so also it is written, 'Charity is of God' (1 John 4:7). That without the grace of God we can fulfil nothing good. CXIII.
Likewise it pleased that whoever shall have said that the grace of justification is given to us for this reason, that what we are commanded to do by free will we may, through grace, be able to fulfil more easily—as though, even if grace were not given, we could, not indeed easily, but yet able even without it, fulfil the divine commands—let him be anathema. For the Lord was speaking of the fruits of the commandments when He said not, 'Without me you can do it with more difficulty,' but said, 'Without me you can do nothing' (John 15:5). That this utterance of the saints is not only humble but truthful: 'If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.' CXIV. Likewise it pleased, concerning what the holy Apostle John says:
'If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us' (1 John 1:8)—whoever shall have thought it ought to be taken thus, namely to say that it behooves us to say we have no sin on account of humility, not because it is truly so, let him be anathema. For the Apostle goes on and adds: 'But if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all iniquity' (1 John 1:9). Whereby it sufficiently appears that this is said not only humbly but also truthfully. For the Apostle could have said: 'If we say we have no sin, we exalt ourselves, and humility is not in us':
but when he says, 'we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us,' he sufficiently shows that he who shall have said that he has no sin speaks not truth but falsehood. That in the Lord's Prayer the saints say for themselves, 'Forgive us our debts.' CXV. Likewise it pleased that whoever shall have said that, in the Lord's Prayer, the saints say 'Forgive us our debts' for this reason, that they say it not for themselves—because this petition is no longer necessary for them—but for others who are sinners among their people; and that therefore each one of the saints does not say 'Forgive me my debts,' but 'Forgive us our debts,' so that the just man is understood to ask this rather for others than for himself, let him be anathema.
For the Apostle James was holy and just when he said: 'For in many things we all offend' (James 3:2). For why was 'all' added, except that this sentence might agree also with the psalm where it is read: 'Enter not into judgment with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified' (Ps. 142:2); and with the prayer of the most wise Solomon: 'There is no man who has not sinned' (1 Kings 8:46); and in the book of holy Job: 'He seals up the hand of every man, that every man may know his own infirmity' (Job 37:7)? Whence also Daniel, holy and just, when in his prayer he said in the plural, 'We have sinned, we have committed iniquity,' and the rest, which there he truthfully and humbly confesses:
lest it be thought, as some suppose, that he said this not concerning his own sins, but rather concerning the sins of his people, afterwards he said: 'When I was praying, and confessing my sins and the sins of my people to the Lord my God' (Dan. 9:20); he was unwilling to say 'our sins,' but said 'the sins of his people' and his own: because, as a prophet, he foresaw that there would be those who would so badly understand. That it is truthfully said by the saints, 'Forgive us our debts.' CXVI. Likewise it pleased that whoever wishes the very words of the Lord's Prayer, where we say 'Forgive us our debts,' to be said by the saints in such a way that it be said humbly, not truthfully, let him be anathema.
For who could endure a man at prayer who lies, not to men, but to the Lord himself, when he says with his lips that he wishes his debts to be forgiven him, while in his heart he says that he has no debts to be forgiven? Concerning congregations converted from the Donatists. CXVII. Likewise it was resolved: since indeed some years ago it was established in the Church by a plenary council that whatever churches situated in a diocese had, before the laws against the Donatists were enacted, become Catholic, should belong to those sees through whose bishops it was brought about that they should be in communion with Catholic unity; but after the laws, whatever churches entered into communion should belong there where they belonged when they were on the side of Donatus.
But because many controversies have since arisen, and continue to arise, among the bishops concerning dioceses, for which it then seemed too little provision was made, now in this holy council it has been resolved that wherever both the Catholic body and the party of Donatus existed, and they belonged to different sees, at whatever time unity was there established or shall be established, whether before the laws or after the laws, those places shall belong to that see to which the Catholic body which had already been there belonged. Concerning dioceses: how the bishops, both Catholic and those converted from the party of Donatus, are to divide them among themselves. CXVIII.
So indeed, that if a bishop from among the Donatists has been converted to Catholic unity, they shall equally divide between themselves those places thus found where both parties existed; that is, that some places shall belong to one and some to the other, in such a way that he who has held the episcopate for the longer time shall make the division, and the junior shall choose. But if perchance there be a single place, let it belong to the see to which it is found nearer. But if it is equally near to both sees, let it belong to the one which the people shall have chosen. But if perchance the old Catholics desire their own bishop, and those who have been converted from the party of Donatus desire theirs, let the wish of the greater number be preferred to the fewer. But if the parties are equal, let the place be assigned to the bishop of longer standing.
But if so many places are found in which both parties existed that they cannot be equally divided, as for example if they are of an odd number, then, after distributing those places which are of an even number, whatever place remains over, the same rule shall be observed in it as was stated above when dealing with a single place. That if a bishop who has freed a diocese from heresy has possessed it for three years, no one shall reclaim it. CXIX. Likewise it was resolved that, even if anyone after the laws has converted some place to Catholic unity, if he has held it for three years with no one reclaiming it, it shall no longer be reclaimed from him. If however during that very three years there was a bishop who could have reclaimed it and kept silent, he shall suffer the prejudice of his right.
But if there was no such bishop, no prejudice shall fall upon the mother church; rather it shall be permitted, when the place receives a bishop which it did not have, from that very day to reclaim it within three years. And likewise, if a bishop has been converted to the Catholic Church from the party of Donatus, the prescribed time shall not prejudice him; but from the day on which he was converted, he shall have for three years the power of reclaiming the places which belonged to that very see. Concerning those who, against the congregations they think belong to them, have rushed in without consulting those who hold them. CXX.
Likewise it was resolved that whatever bishops, claiming congregations which they judge to belong to their see, do not reclaim them in such a way as to plead their causes before bishops acting as judges, but rush in while another holds them—whether the congregations be willing or unwilling—shall suffer the loss of their cause. And whoever have already done this, if the dispute between the bishops is not yet ended but they still contend over it, let him withdraw from it who is shown to have rushed in disregarding the ecclesiastical courts. Nor let anyone flatter himself if he has obtained letters from the primate that he may keep it; but whether he has letters or not, let him approach the one who holds it and receive his letter, so that it may appear that he has peacefully held the church belonging to him.
But if he raises some question, let the cause be concluded by bishops as judges—either those whom the primates assign to them, or those neighbouring bishops whom they themselves choose by consent. Concerning those who neglect the congregations belonging to them. CXXI. Likewise it was resolved that whatever bishops neglect to gain for Catholic unity the places belonging to their see, shall be approached by diligent neighbouring bishops, that they may not delay to do it. And if within six months from the day of the approach they do not accomplish it, let those places belong to him who has been able to gain them. So indeed, that if he to whom they were seen to belong can prove that the negligence chosen by him was rather that the heretics might remain there with impunity, and that his own diligence was forestalled:
so that thereby his more solicitous care was hindered: when bishops as judges have ascertained this, let them restore those places to his see. But if the bishops between whom the cause is disputed are of different provinces, let that primate assign judges in whose province the place is situated concerning which the dispute is. But if by common agreement they choose neighbouring judges, let either one be chosen or three, so that if they choose three, they follow either the opinion of all or of two. For the sentence of the chosen judges ought not to be despised. CXXII. From judges, however, whom common consent has chosen, it shall not be lawful to appeal.
And whoever, having been summoned, is found through contumacy unwilling to obey the judges, when this has been proved to the bishop of the first see, let the latter issue letters that none of the bishops should hold communion with him until he obeys. That if a bishop neglects his diocese, he shall be deprived of communion. CXXIII. If in the mother sees a bishop is negligent against heretics, let him be approached by diligent neighbouring bishops, and let his negligence be pointed out to him, so that he cannot excuse himself. And if, from the day on which he is approached, within six months—if there be in his province the means of execution—he has not taken care to convert them to Catholic unity, let him not be held in communion until he fulfils it.
But if the executor has not come to the places, it shall not be charged against the bishop. Concerning bishops who have falsely claimed that they have admitted Donatists to communion. CXXIV. But if it be proved that he lied concerning their communion, by saying that those had been admitted to communion who, as he knew, were established not to have been admitted, let him also lose his episcopate. Concerning presbyters and clerics, that they should not appeal except to the African councils. CXXV. Likewise it was resolved that presbyters, deacons, or the other lower clerics, in the cases they may have, if they complain of the judgments of their own bishops, the neighbouring bishops shall hear them, and shall settle whatever there is between them, being called in by them with the consent of their own bishops.
But if they think they must appeal even from these, let them not appeal except to the African councils, or to the primates of their own provinces; but whoever thinks he must appeal across the sea, let him be received into communion by no one within Africa. Concerning the veiling also of younger virgins. CXXVI. Likewise it was resolved that whatever bishop, by the necessity of endangered virginal chastity—when either a powerful suitor or some ravisher is feared, or if she has even been pricked by some perilous scruple of death, lest she die unveiled—either at the demand of her parents, or of those to whose care she belongs, shall have veiled a virgin, or has veiled one before the age of twenty-five years:
let not the council which was established concerning this number of years be to his disadvantage. That bishops may not be detained longer in council, let them choose three judges each from the several provinces. CXXVII. Likewise it was resolved that, lest all the bishops who have gathered for the council be detained longer, three judges from each province should be chosen by the whole council; and there were chosen from the province of Carthage: Vincentius, Fortunatianus, and Clarus; from the province of Numidia: Alypius, Augustine, and Restitutus; from the province of Byzacena, together with the holy elder Donatianus the primate: Cresconius, Jocundus, and Aemilianus; from Mauretania Sitifensis: Severianus, Asiaticus, and Donatus;
from the province of Tripolitania: Plautius, who according to custom is the single legate from there; let all these, together with the holy elder Aurelius, take cognizance of all matters: whom the whole council requested that he himself subscribe to all things, whether to the acts which have already been completed, or to the letters. And they subscribed. I, Aurelius, bishop of the Church of Carthage, have consented to this decree, and, having read it through, have subscribed. Likewise the others also subscribed. Likewise there was present at this council a legation of the Roman Church. After the consulship of the most glorious emperors Honorius for the twelfth time and Theodosius for the eighth, the Augusti, on the third day before the Kalends of June, at Carthage, in the sacristy of the restored basilica.
When Aurelius the bishop, together with Faustinus of the Church of Potentia in the province of Picenum in Italy, legate of the Roman Church, and with Vincentius of Culusi, Fortunatianus of Neapolis, Marianus of Uzippa, Adeodatus of Simidica, Pentadius of Carpi, Rufinianus of Muzubi, Praetextatus of Sicilibba, Quodvultdeus of Vera, Candidus of Abbir, and Gallonianus of Ulia, legates of the Proconsular province; with Alypius of Thagaste, Augustine of Hippo Regius, and Posidonius of Calama, legates of the province of Numidia; with Maximianus of Aquae, Jocundus of Suffetula, and Hilarianus of Horreum Caelium, legates of the province of Byzacena; with Novatus of Sitifis and Leo of Mocta, legates of the province of Mauretania Sitifensis; with Ninellus of Rusurra, Laurentius of Icosium, and Numerianus of Rusguniae, legates of the province of Mauretania Caesariensis—chosen as judges by the universal council, with the deacons standing by—had sat down, and certain matters had been transacted, when many bishops complained that they could not bear to remain for the transaction of the remaining business, and were hastening to their own churches, it pleased the whole council that there should be chosen by all, from each several province, those who should remain behind for the carrying out of the other matters.
And it came to pass that those were present whose subscriptions testify that they were present. That the excommunicate ought not to be admitted to make an accusation. CXXVIII. And it pleased all that, since by the earlier decrees of the councils it was already established concerning the persons who are to be admitted to the accusation of clerics, but it was not expressed which persons should not be admitted, therefore we define that he is rightly not admitted to an accusation who, after he has been excommunicated, while still placed in that very excommunication—whether he be cleric or layman—has wished to accuse. That slaves and freedmen, and all persons of ill repute, ought not to accuse. CXXIX. Likewise it was resolved that all slaves, whether one's own,
freedmen, shall not be admitted to make an accusation, nor all those whom the public laws do not admit for the accusation of public crimes. Also all who are stained with the marks of infamy, that is, actors and persons subjected to base practices, heretics also, whether pagans or Jews: yet nevertheless to all those to whom accusation is denied, in their own causes the liberty of accusing is not to be denied. That he who has not proved one charge ought not to be admitted to another. CXXX. Likewise it was resolved that, whenever many crimes are laid against clerics by accusers, and they have not been able to prove one of them—that one which they pursued first—they shall not thereafter be admitted to the rest. Who are to be admitted to give testimony. CXXXI.
But witnesses are not to be admitted to give testimony who have been forbidden to be admitted to make an accusation, or even those whom the accuser himself has produced from his own household. And to give testimony let none be admitted within the fourteenth year of his age. Concerning a bishop who excommunicates one who confesses a crime to him alone. CXXXII. Likewise it was resolved that, if at any time a bishop says that some crime was confessed to him alone, and that man denies it, let the bishop not think it pertains to his own injury that he alone is not believed; and even if he says that from the scruple of his own conscience he is unwilling to commune with the one who denies it. That a bishop may not rashly deprive anyone of communion. CXXXIII.