27. A national council was held in 1408, convoked to deliberate upon the government of the Church, and the presentations to benefices : first, The declaration of the favorers and adherents of Pedro of Luna was read ; then a great number of articles were drawn up, upon the manner in which the French Church should be gov- erned during the neutralit}'. These articles come under five principal heads.
1. Coiiceruiiig the absolution of sins and censures re- served ordinarily for the pope ; for these the council per- mits that recourse be had to the peniteul iary of the Holy ISee (the president of the penitential court at Rome, an otHce said to have been established by Benedict II in Co4) ; or, if that cannot be, to the ordinary.
'-'. Concerning dispensations for irregularities, and for marriage. In these cases recourse was to be had to pro- vincial councils.
S. Concerning the administration of justice, for which purpose it was ordered that the archbishops should hold a council yearly with their suffriigaus; the monks to do the Kiime.
4. As to apiicals, the last court of appeal was declared to be a provincial council.
5. As lo presentations to benefices, it was ruled that the election (if pidales should l)e made freely and according to right rulo ; that the election of bishops should be cou- tirnied by the metropolitan, and those of archbishops by the primate, or by the i)rovineial council. lu fact, the provincial council was made the substitute in all those matters which were usually carried to the pope.
It was further resolved tiiat the revenue of all bene- fices enjoyed by the followers of Pedro of Luna should be seized and put into the king's hands. See Labbe, 6'o«c. xi, 2518.
28. A synod convened in I 120, from iMarch 1 to April 23, by call of .John de Nantcm. archbishop of Sens, who was assisted by the bishops of Chartres, Paris, Meaux, and Troves, his suffragans; also by the proctors of the bishops of Auxerre and Nevers, and a great number of abbots and otlier ecclesiastics. Forty regulations, re- lating to the duties and conduct of ecclesiastics, monks, and regular canons, the celebration of marriage, and the
dispensation of banns, were drawn up. are the most remarkable :
The following
1. Orders canons and other clerks connected with the churches to celebrate divine service in an edifying man- ner, to chant the Psalms reverently, pausing between the vei>es, so that one side of the choir !?hould not begin be- fore the other had finished.
4. Exhorts the clergy to act as models of piety and cor- rect behavior to the laity; not lobe careless in doing their duties, and not to accept any benefice merely for the sake of the income to be derived from it.
5. Excludes from entering the church for three months bishops who raise to the priesthood persons of iriegular life aud ignorant of the epistles, gospels, and other parts of the holy office.
Other regulations refer to the conduct of curates, and direct them to exhort their parishioners to confession five times a year, viz. at Easter, Whitsuntide, the Assumption, All Saints, and Christmas, and also at the beginning of the New Year; others relate to the conduct of ahbots, abbesses, priors of the orders of St. Benedict and St. Au- gustine, prescribing annual chapters, modesty of appaiel and gesture, etc. ; aud forbids money lo be exacted from any one entering upon a monastic life.
Regulation 25. Forbids barbers, and other persons in trade, and merchants, to exercise their calling on Sun- days and festivals.
32 and S3. Forbid the celebration of marriages out of the parish church, and too great laxity in dispensations of banns.
See Labbe, Coiic. xii, 392.
29. An important synod, sometimes called the Council of Sens, was held in 1528, from Feb. 3 to Oct. 9, in the church of the Great Augustines. Cardinal Antoine du Prat, archbishop of Sens and chancellor of France, presided. He was assisted by seven bishops, viz. the bishops of Chartres, Auxerre, Meaux, I'aris, Orleans, Nevers, and Troyes. The objects of the council were chiefly to condemn the errors of Luther, and to reform the discipline of the Church. Sixteen decrees were pub- lished relating to the faith, and forty upon discipline. Among the first the following are the principal :
1. Declares that the Church Catholic is one, and cannot err.
2. That it is visible.
3. That the Church is represented by an (ecumenical council, which has uuiversal authority in determining questions of faith, etc.
4. That to the Church it belongs to determine the au- thenticity of the canouical books, aud to settle the sense of Holy Scripture.
5. That the apostolical traditions are certain and neces- sary, aud to be firmly believed.
G. Tliatthe constitutions and customs of the Church are to be submitted to with respect, and her rule of conduct to be obeyed.
7. That seasons of fasting aud abstinence are to be ob- served under pain of anathema.
S. That the celibacy of the clergy being ordered by the Latin Church, having been always practiced and enjoined by the second Council of Carthage, as a law ordained in the apostolical times ; they who teach the contrary are to be treated as heretics.
9. That monastic vows are not at variance with Chris- tian liberty, and are to be kept.