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Article THE LIFE OF XIMENES, ARCHBISHOP OF TOLEDO. ← Page 2 of 5 →
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The Life Of Ximenes, Archbishop Of Toledo.
in all the points of Christian doctrine , by the instruction of catechisms adapted to their capacities , of which he gave them a model : the utility of this attention was very great . Because , in his diocese , the number of approved confessors was small ; lest the priests , without the means of confession , might be deprived of saying mass , or mi ght say it without a proper disposition ; he permitted them , even in cases reserved to himselfto absolve each
, other . He re-established the ancient custom of keeping the holy water at the entrance of the churches ; which had been entiiely abolished . From this the people received great consolation . D . Alphonso Carillo , one of his predecessors , could not suffer certain importunate civilities , which were observed , especially amongst persons of distinction , when the peace was carried to them in the
mass at parishes to salute ; he ordered , therefore , at the first exhibkion of this sort , that the Deacon should finish the ceremony , and return to the altar . Ximenes , unwilling , that by the indiscretion of two or three persons , the congregation present should be deprived of the peace imparted to them by the priest , ordered , that those who amused Themselves with such indecent ceremonies should be passtd I ' yand
, the peace given to others . Consistent with his learning in the law , he regulated the order and proceedings not only of his official courts , but of the lay tribunals of his diocese . To abolish the , tedious formalities which had been introduced into the courts of justice , by the avarice of lawyers and obstinacy of pleadershe enjoined all his judgesin matters of trifling
, , import , without writing's and other charges , to hear the parties , and to give immediate judgments . In affairs of consequence , when the f ' aft had been established by the necessary proofs and attestations , he desired them to peimit each party to produce in writing his reasons , and one reply only to be made ; and that on the twentieth day , at farthest , a definitive answer should he given .
1 o regulate their conduct towards ecclesiastics , he made a particular decree , that if the accusations preferred against them were trifling , they should either be acquitted or condemned by his officials , without noise and further jiroceedings ; if , however , their faults were considerable , they should be judged with equity : but with great circumspection , heexpressly recommended to their attention a respect for the honour and reputation of the priests ; and that they should with bowels
of compassion look upon them , as the anointed of the Lord , with ail eye of tenderness . Two things of great utility he established , which had never been practised before . The first of which was , that in every parish a register of all children baptized , with the names of their parents , their sponsors , and the witnesses present at the baptisminserted with the
, year , the month , and day in which the ceremony was performed , should be regularly kept . By this means he put a stop to the frequency of divorces , which , under pretence of religion and spiritual alliance , were with impunity repeated . Of what advantage an adherence to this custom has proved , in admission to holy orders , in 'filling up vacant benefices , in the administration of the affairs of or-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Life Of Ximenes, Archbishop Of Toledo.
in all the points of Christian doctrine , by the instruction of catechisms adapted to their capacities , of which he gave them a model : the utility of this attention was very great . Because , in his diocese , the number of approved confessors was small ; lest the priests , without the means of confession , might be deprived of saying mass , or mi ght say it without a proper disposition ; he permitted them , even in cases reserved to himselfto absolve each
, other . He re-established the ancient custom of keeping the holy water at the entrance of the churches ; which had been entiiely abolished . From this the people received great consolation . D . Alphonso Carillo , one of his predecessors , could not suffer certain importunate civilities , which were observed , especially amongst persons of distinction , when the peace was carried to them in the
mass at parishes to salute ; he ordered , therefore , at the first exhibkion of this sort , that the Deacon should finish the ceremony , and return to the altar . Ximenes , unwilling , that by the indiscretion of two or three persons , the congregation present should be deprived of the peace imparted to them by the priest , ordered , that those who amused Themselves with such indecent ceremonies should be passtd I ' yand
, the peace given to others . Consistent with his learning in the law , he regulated the order and proceedings not only of his official courts , but of the lay tribunals of his diocese . To abolish the , tedious formalities which had been introduced into the courts of justice , by the avarice of lawyers and obstinacy of pleadershe enjoined all his judgesin matters of trifling
, , import , without writing's and other charges , to hear the parties , and to give immediate judgments . In affairs of consequence , when the f ' aft had been established by the necessary proofs and attestations , he desired them to peimit each party to produce in writing his reasons , and one reply only to be made ; and that on the twentieth day , at farthest , a definitive answer should he given .
1 o regulate their conduct towards ecclesiastics , he made a particular decree , that if the accusations preferred against them were trifling , they should either be acquitted or condemned by his officials , without noise and further jiroceedings ; if , however , their faults were considerable , they should be judged with equity : but with great circumspection , heexpressly recommended to their attention a respect for the honour and reputation of the priests ; and that they should with bowels
of compassion look upon them , as the anointed of the Lord , with ail eye of tenderness . Two things of great utility he established , which had never been practised before . The first of which was , that in every parish a register of all children baptized , with the names of their parents , their sponsors , and the witnesses present at the baptisminserted with the
, year , the month , and day in which the ceremony was performed , should be regularly kept . By this means he put a stop to the frequency of divorces , which , under pretence of religion and spiritual alliance , were with impunity repeated . Of what advantage an adherence to this custom has proved , in admission to holy orders , in 'filling up vacant benefices , in the administration of the affairs of or-