The Presbyters Project

Canon 16

De rebus ecclesiae dispensandis.

Episcopus habeat potestatem in rebus ecclesiae ut dispenset necessitatem habentibus cum omni reverentia et timore Dei. Participare eum oportet quae necessaria sunt. Si tamen ipse aut qui cum eo sunt fratres indiguerint aliquid, ut necessitatem nullomodo patiantur secundum sanctum Apostolum dicentem: "Victu et tegumento, his contenti sumus" [1 Tim 6:8] Si autem res ecclesiasticas episcopus in suas voluntates usurpare voluerit et lucra ecclesiae vel fructus agrorum non cum presbyterorum vel diaconorum consilio intaminaverit, aut fratribus vel filiis vel quibuscumque propinquis suis dederit potestatem, ut per eos latenter red laedantur ecclesiae, hunc oportet obnoxium esse concilio. Similiter id, si episcopus vel qui cum eo sunt presbyteri aut diacones accusentur, qui ea quae ex reditu vel ex quolibet actu ecclesiae veniunt in suos sinus colligunt et pauperes fraudant et fame conficiunt, hos corripi oportet secundum quod ordinatum fuerit a sancto concilio.

(ed. Barlowe 1950: 128)

Canon 16

On distributing the property of the Church.

The bishop shall have power over the property of the Church so that he could provide [material help] to those in need with all reverence and fear of God. He should partake of everything which is necessary. If then he or brothers who are with him are in need of something, they should not suffer poverty, according to what the Apostle said: "And having food and raiment let us be therewith content." [1 Tim 6:8] If, however, bishop wants to abuse his power in regard to the ecclesiastical property and does not handle the profits of the Church or the fruit of the lands seeking the advice of presbyters and deacons, or he gives the power [over the property of the Church] to his brothers or sons, or other relatives in order to rob secretly the property of the Church, he shall be liable to punishment by the council as an offender. Similarly, if a bishop or the presbyter or deacons who are with him are accused that they pocketed anything from the revenues of the Church, and frauded the poor and let them be hungry, they shall be punished according to the decrees of the holy council.

(trans. M. Szada)

Discussion:

Cf. canon 25 of the council of Antioch in AD 341.

Place of event:

Region

Iberian Peninsula

City

Braga

About the source:

Author: Martin of Braga
Title: Collectio orientalium canonum, seu Capitula Martini, Capitula Martini, Collection of the Eastern canons
Origin: Braga (Iberian Peninsula), Antioch (East)

In the manuscript tradition the canons of the Second Council of Braga (Iberian Peninsula) in AD 572 are followed by the Eastern canons collected and translated into Latin by Martin of Braga (Iberian Peninsula). He was using a Greek collection, impossible to identify with any of the collections known today, which gathered the canons of the several Eastern councils. Martin quotes also the canons of the First Council of Toledo AD 400. Martin dedicated his work to Bishop Nitigisius of Lugo (Iberian Peninsula). Those two bishops met on the Second Council of Braga, and possibly the collection was composed for this occasion (Barlowe 1950: 84-87).

Edition:

C. Barlowe ed., Martini episcopi Bracarensis opera omnia, New Haven 1950.

Categories:

Ecclesiastical administration - Administering Church property

Public law - Ecclesiastical

Economic status and activity - Ownership or possession of land

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

Administration of justice - Ecclesiastical

Livelihood/income

Pastoral activity - Helping the poor and needy

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1062, http://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1062