It renews the ancient canons against uon-resident prel- ates, and declares that every prelate, whatever be his dig- nity, being absent for six months together from liis dio- cese, without jnsi and sufficient cause, sliall be deprived of the fourth part of his revenue; and that if he remain away during the rest of the year, he shall U)se another fourth; that if his absence be prol.mged l)eyoiid this, the metropolitan shall be obliged, under pain of being inter- dicted from entering the church, to jiresent hinTto the pope, who shall eitlier punish him or give his church to a more worthy sliepherd ; that if it be the metropolitan himself who is in fault, the oldest of liis sufi"iagaus shall be obliaed to present him.
The decree then goes on to treat of the reform of eccle- siaj-tics, both secular and regular; of the visitation of chap- ters by the ordinary; and declares that bishops may not perfortn any episcopal function whatever out of their own dioceses without tlie consent of the bishop of tlie place.
Before the seventh session a congregation was held, ill which it was agreed to treat in the next place of the sacraments; and thirty-six articles, taken from the Lu- theran books, were proposed for examination, after which thirty canons on the subject were drawn up — viz. thir- teen on the sacraments in general, fourteen on baptism, and three on confirmation. They relate to their num- ber, their necessity, excellence, the manner in w^liich they confer grace, which they declared to be ex opere operato, i. e. that the sacraments confer grace upon all those recipients who do not, by mortal sin, offer a bar to its reception; e. g. grace is conferred by baptism upon infants, although they bring with them no pious affec- tions. They also drew up a decree declaring tliat the sacraments ought always to be administered gratui- tously.
After this the question of reformation was discussed; among other things, it was debated whether a plurality of benefices requiring residence is forbidden by the di- vine law.
Sessimi VII (March 3, 1547). — In this session the thirty canons above noted relating to the sacraments were read, together with the accompanying anathemas. Among the thirteen on the sacraments in general were the following :
1. Anathematizes those who maintain that the seven sacraments were not all instituted by Jesus Christ.
3. Anathematizes those who maintain that any one sac- rament is of more worth than another.
S. Anaihemaiizes those who deny that the sacraments confer grace ex opere operato, i. e. by their own proper viriue.
'.I. Anathematizes those who deny that baptism, orders, and confirmation imprint an inefl'aceable cliaiacter.
10. Anathematizes iliose who maintain that all Chris- tians, male and female, may preacli God's word aud ad- minister the saciaments.
11. Anathematizes those who deny that the intention of the minister to di> what the Cluirch does is necess;uy to tlie effectual administration of tlie sacraments.
12. Anathematizes those who maintain that the sin of the minister invalidates the sacrament.
in. Anathematizes those who maintain that the minis- ter may change the prescribed form.
Among the fourteen canons on baptism :
2. Anathematizes those who assert that real aud natural water is not necessary in baptism.
3. Anathematizes those who maintain that the Clinich of Home does not teach the true doctrine on the subject of baptism.
4. Anathematizes those who deny the validity of ba))- tism conferred by heretics, in the name of tlie blessed Trinity, and witli the intention to do what the Church does.
5. Anathematizes those who maintain that baptism is not necessary to salvation.
7. Anathematizes those who maintain that the baptized need only believe, and not keep the law of God.
10. Anathematizes those who maintain that sin after baptism is remitted liy faith.
11. Anathematizes those who maintain that apostates from the faith should be again baptized.
12. Anathematizes those who maintain that no one ought to be bajitized until he is of the age at which our Lord was liaptized, or at the point of death.
13. Anathematizes those who deny that baptized infants are not to be reckoned among the faithful.
14. Anathematizes those who maintain that persons baptized in infancy should, wlien they come of aire, be asked whether they are willing to ratify the promise made in their name.
Secondlv, the decree of reformation, containing fif- teen chapters, relative to the election of bishops, plural- ities, etc., was passed.
In a congregation which followed, the question of transferring the council to some other place was dis- cussed, a report having been circulated that a conta- gious disease had broken out in Trent.
Session VIII (March 11, 1547). — In this session a de- cree was read transferring the council to Bologna, which was approved by about two thirds of the assembly; the rest, who were mostly Spaniards or other subjects of the emperor, strongh' opposed the translation. The emper- or complained much of the transfer of the council, and ordered the prelates who had opposed it to remain at Trent, which they did.
Session IX (April 21, 1547). — In the first session held at Bologna, the legates and thirty-four bishops were present, A decree was read postponing all business to the next session, to be held on June 2 ensuing, in order to give time for the prelates to arrive.