CANONS

[THE GENERAL and ECUMENICAL COUNCIL of the CATHOLIC CHURCH - THE FIRST LATERAN COUNCIL, 1123]

Concilia oecumenica et generalia Ecclesiae catholicae - Concilium Lateranense I a. 1123

1. Following the examples of the holy fathers and renewing them as we are bound by our office, by the authority of the apostolic see we altogether forbid anyone to be ordained or promoted in the church of God for money. If anyone indeed should have been ordained or promoted in the church in such a fashion, let him be utterly deprived of the office acquired. 

Sanctorum patrum exempla sequentes et officii nostri debito innovantes ordinari quemquam per pecuniam in ecclesia dei vel promoveri auctoritate sedis apostolicae modis omnibus prohibemus.  Si quis vero in ecclesia ordinationem vel promotionem taliter adquisierit adquisita prorsus careat dignitate.

2.  We absolutely forbid those excommunicated by their own bishops to be received into communion by other bishops, abbots and clergy 

A suis episcopis excommunicatos ab aliis episcopis abbatibus et clericis in communionem recipi procul dubio prohibemus.

3.  No one may consecrate as a bishop someone who is not canonically elected. If anyone should presume to do this, let both consecrator and consecrated be deposed  beyond hope of restoration.

Nullus in episcopum nisi canonice electum consecret. Quod si praesumptum fuerit et consecratus et consecrator absque recuperationis spe deponatur.

4  Absolutely no archdeacon, archpriest, provost or dean  may grant to anyone the care of souls or prebends in a church without the decision or consent of the bishop. Rather, as it is constituted by the holy canons, let the care of souls and the dispensing of ecclesiastical affairs remain in the decision and power of the bishop. Indeed, if anyone presumes to do something against this, or to claim for himself the power which pertains to the bishop, let him be banished from the bounds of the church

Nullus omnino archidiaconus aut archipresbyter sive praepositus vel decanus animarum curam vel praebendas ecclesiae sine iudicio vel consensu episcopi alicui tribuat. Immo sicut sanctis canonibus constitutum est animarum cura et rerum ecclesiasticarum dispensatio in episcopi iudicio et potestate permaneat. Si quis vero contra hoc facere aut potestatem quae ad episcopum pertinet sibi vendicare praesumpserit ab ecclesiae liminibus arceatur.

5.  The ordinations made by the heresiarch Burdinus , after he was condemned by the Roman church, and whatever was afterwards done by pseudo-bishops ordained by him, we judge to be null and void.

Ordinationes quae a Burdino haeresiarcha postquam a Romana ecclesia est damnatus quaecumque etiam a pseudoepiscopis per eum postea ordinatis factae sunt nos irratas esse iudicamus.

6.  No one except a priest  may be ordained to the office of provost, archpriest or dean; no one except a deacon may be ordained to the office of archdeacon.  

Nullus in praepositum nullus in archipresbyterum nullus in decanum nisi presbyter nullus in archidiaconum nisi diaconus ordinetur.

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7.  We absolutely forbid priests, deacons or subdeacons to live with concubines and wives, and to cohabit with other women, except those whom the council of Nicaea permitted to dwell with them solely on account of necessity, namely a mother, sister, paternal or maternal aunt, or other such persons, about whom no suspicion could justly arise

Presbyteris diaconibus vel subdiaconibus concubinarum et uxorum contubernia penitus interdicimus et aliarum mulierum cohabitationem praeter quas synodus Nicaena propter solas necessitudinum causas habitare permisit videlicet matrem sororem amitam vel materteram aut alias huiusmodi de quibus nulla iuste valeat suspicio oriri.

8.  We further resolve, in accordance with the statute of the most blessed pope Stephen, that lay persons, however religious they may be, have no power to dispose of any ecclesiastical business; but following the apostolic canons, let the bishop have the care of all ecclesiastical matters, and let him manage them as in the sight of God. Therefore  if any prince or other lay person should arrogate to himself the disposition or donation  of ecclesiastical things or possessions, let him be regarded as sacrilegious.

Praeterea iuxta beatissimi Stephani papae sanctionem statuimus ut laici quamvis religiosi sint nullam tamen de ecclesiasticis rebus aliquid disponendi habeant facultatem sed secundum apostolorum canones omnium negotiorum ecclesiasticorum curam episcopus habeat et ea velut deo contemplante dispenset. Si quis ergo principum vel aliorum laicorum dispositionem seu donationem rerum sive possessionum ecclesiasticarum sibi vendicaverit ut sacrilegus videatur.

9.  We prohibit unions between blood relatives, because both the divine and secular laws prohibit them. For, the divine laws not only cast out those doing this and their progeny but also call them accursed; the secular laws call such people disreputable and deprive them of inheritance. We, therefore, following our fathers, mark them with infamy and judge them to be infamous.

Coniunctiones consanguineorum fieri prohibemus quoniam eas et divinae et saeculi prohibent leges. Leges enim divinae hoc agentes et eos qui ex eis prodeunt non solum eiciunt sed maledictos appellant. Leges vero saeculi infames tales eos vocant et ab hereditate repellunt.Nos itaque patres nostros sequentes infamia eos notamus et infames esse censemus.

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the remission of their sins,

and we place their houses and families and all their goods under the protection of blessed Peter and the Roman church, just as has been decreed by our lord pope Urban.

 Whoever dares to distrain or carry off their houses, families and goods, while they are on their way, shall be punished with excommunication.  Those who have put crosses on their clothes, with a view to journeying to Jerusalem or to Spain, and have later taken them off, we command by our apostolic authority to wear the crosses again and to complete the journey between this Easter and the following Easter. Otherwise, from that moment we cut them off from entry into church and forbid divine services in all their lands, apart from the baptism of infants and confessions for the dying.

 Quicumque ergo ea distrahere vel auferre quamdiu in via illa morantur praesumpserint excommunicationis ultione plectantur. Eos autem qui vel pro hierosolymitano vel pro Hispanico itinere cruces sibi in vestibus posuisse noscuntur et eas dimisisse cruces iterato assumere et viam ab instanti pascha usque ad sequens proximum pascha perficere apostolica auctoritate praecipimus. Alioquin ex eos ab ecclesiae introitu sequestramus et in omnibus terris eorum divina officia praeter infantium baptisma et morientium poenitentias interdicimus.

11.  With the advice of our brothers and of the whole curia, and also with the wish and consent of the prefect, we order the abolition of that immoral practice hitherto obtaining with respect to the dead Porticani, so that the goods of Porticani dwellers dying without heirs are not to be dispersed against the wishes of those dying. This, however, is to the extent that the Porticani remain obedient and faithful to the Roman church and to us and our successors. 

Illam vero pravam defunctorum Porticanorum consuetudinem quae hactenus ibi fuit ex fratrum nostrorum et totius curiae consilio necnon ex voluntate atque consensu praefecti removendam censemus ut Porticanorum habitatorum sine heredibus morientium bona contra morientis deliberationem minime pervadantur.

Ita tamen ut Porticani in Romanae ecclesiae et nostra nostrorum que successorum oboedientia et fidelitate permaneant.

12.  In accordance with the canons of the holy fathers, we absolutely forbid and prohibit the laity, under the penalty of anathema, to remove the offerings from the most sacred and revered altars of blessed Peter and of the Saviour and of St Mary Rotunda and of St Nicholas of Bari, of St Giles, or from the altars or crosses of all the other churches. By  apostolic authority we forbid the fortification or taking hold of churches by  lay persons. 

Sanctorum patrum canonibus consona sentientes oblationes de sacratissimo et reverendissimo altari beati Petri et salvatoris et sanctae Mariae rotundae et sancti Nicolai Barensis sancti Egidii aut de aliis omnium ecclesiarum altaribus sive crucibus a laicis auferri penitus interdicimus et sub anathematis districtione prohibemus.

Ecclesias a laicis incastellari aut in servitutem redigi auctoritate apostolica prohibemus.

13.  Whoever knowingly makes or intentionally spends counterfeit money shall be separated from the communion of the faithful as one accursed, an oppressor of the poor and a disturber of the state.

Quicumque monetam falsam scienter fecerit aut studiose expenderit tamquam maledictus et pauperum virorum oppressor et civitatis turbator a fidelium consortio separetur.

14.  If anyone tries to attack pilgrims to Rome and foreigners  visiting the shrines of the apostles and the oratories of other saints, or to rob them of the things they bring, or to trouble merchants  with new exactions of tolls and fees, let him be deprived of christian communion until he makes reparation.

Si quis romipetas et peregrinos apostolorum limina et aliorum sanctorum oratoria visitantes capere seu rebus quas ferunt spoliare vel mercatores novis teloneorum seu pedaticorum exactionibus molestare tentaverit donec satisfecerit communione careat christiana.

15.  We confirm, with the authority of the holy Spirit, whatever has been determined by the Roman pontiffs our predecessors concerning the peace and truce of God or arson or the public highways. [1]

Quicquid vero de pace et trevia dei vel de incendio seu de publicis stratis ab antecessoribus nostris Romanis pontificibus constitutum est nos sancti spiritus auctoritate confirmamus.

Msi (as canon 14) and B (as canon 13) have a different text namely:

If anyone should violate a truce, he is to be admonished up to three times by the bishop to make reparation. If he acts in contempt of the third admonition to make reparation, the bishop, either with the counsel of the metropolitan  or with two or one of the neighbouring bishops, shall declare the sentence of anathema on the rebel, and denounce him in writing to the bishops all around

Si quis treguam diffregerit usque tertio ad satisfactionem ab episcopo admoneatur.Quod si tertio admonitus satisfacere contempserit episcopus vel cum metropolitani consilio aut cum duobus aut uno vicinorum episcoporum in rebellem anathematis sententiam dictet et per scripturam episcopis circumquaque denuntiet.

16.  Following in the footsteps of the holy fathers, we order by general decree, that monks be subject to their own bishops  with all humility, and show due obedience and devoted submission to them in all things, as if to masters and shepherds of the church of God. They may not celebrate masses in public anywhere. Moreover, let them completely abstain from public visitations of the sick, from anointings and even from hearing confessions, for these things in no way pertain to their calling. Indeed, in the churches where their ministry is recognized, they may only have priests who were ordained by their own bishop, to whom they will answer for the care of souls which they have assumed.

Sanctorum etiam patrum vestigiis inhaerentes generali decreto sancimus ut monachi propriis episcopis cum omni humilitate subiecti exsistant et eis uti magistris et ecclesiae dei pastoribus debitam oboedientiam et devotam in omnibus subiectionem exhibeant. Publicas missarum sollemnitates nusquam celebrent. A publicis etiam infirmorum visitationibus inunctionibus seu etiam poenitentiis quod ad illorum nullatenus officium pertinet sese omnino abstineant. In ecclesiis vero quibus ministrare noscuntur presbyteros nonnisi per manum sui episcopi habeant qui ei de suscepta animarum cura respondeant.

Msi (as canon 18) and B (as canon 17) have :

We forbid abbots and monks to give public penances, to visit the sick, to perform anointings and to chant public masses. They shall receive chrism, holy oil, consecrations of altars and ordinations of clerics from the bishops in whose dioceses they reside.[2]

Interdicimus abbatibus et monachis publicas poenitentias dare infirmos visitare et unctiones facere et missas publicas cantare. Chrisma et oleum consecrationes altarium ordinationes clericorum ab episcopis accipiant in quorum parochiis manent.

17.  In our desire to preserve in peace, by the grace of God, the possessions of the holy Roman church, we strictly forbid, under pain of anathema, any military  person to presume to seize or hold by force Benevento, the city of blessed Peter. If anyone should dare otherwise, he shall be bound by the chain of anathema.

Ad haec sanctae Romanae ecclesiae possessiones quietas servare per dei gratiam cupientes praecipimus et sub districtione anathematis interdicimus ne aliqua militaris persona Beneventanam beati Petri civitatem praesumat invadere aut violenter retinere.Si quis aliter praesumpserit anathematis vinculo teneatur.

The remaining canons are missing in alpha, and Msi has canons 18-19 together with canon 16. The first part of this canon (Priests ... pertain to the bishop) may belong to canon 16 (B).

18. Priests are to be appointed to parish churches by the bishops, to whom they shall answer for the care of souls and for those matters which pertain to the bishop. They may not receive tithes or churches from lay persons without the consent and wish of the bishops; and if they presume to do otherwise, they shall be subject to the canonical penalty. 

In parochialibus ecclesiis presbyteri per episcopos constituantur qui eis respondeant de animarum cura et de iis quae ad episcopum pertinent. Decimas et ecclesias a laicis non suscipiant absque consensu et voluntate episcoporum et si aliter praesumptum fuerit canonicae ultioni subiaceant.

19. We allow the service which monasteries and their churches have paid from the time of  pope Gregory VII until now. We altogether forbid abbots and monks to have the possessions of churches and bishops by a thirty  years provision. 

Servitium quod monasteria aut eorum ecclesiae a tempore Gregorii papae vii usque ad hoc tempus fecere et nos concedimus. Possessiones ecclesiarum et episcoporum tricennales abbates vel monachos habere omnimodis prohibemus.

20. Having in mind the examples in the traditions of the fathers, and discharging the duty of our pastoral office, we decree that churches and what belongs to them, both persons and possessions, namely clerics, monks and their lay brothers, as well as those who come to pray and what they bring with them, are to be under protection and not be harmed. If anyone dares to act contrary to this and after recognizing his villainy, has not properly made amends within the space of thirty days, let him be banished from the bounds of the church and be smitten with the sword of anathema.

Paternarum traditionum exemplis commoniti pastoralis officii debitum persolventes ecclesias cum bonis suis tam personis quam possessionibus clericos videlicet ac monachos eorum que conversos oratores quoque cum suis nihilominus rebus quas ferunt tutos et sine molestia esse statuimus.

Si quis autem contra hoc facere praesumpserit et postquam facinus suum recognoverit infra triginta dierum spatium competenter non emendaverit a liminibus ecclesiae arceatur et anathematis gladio feriatur.

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21. We absolutely forbid priests, deacons, subdeacons and monks to have concubines or to contract marriages. We adjudge, as the sacred canons have laid down, that marriage contracts between such persons should be made void and the persons ought to undergo penance.

Presbyteris diaconibus subdiaconibus et monachis concubinas habere seu matrimonia contrahere penitus interdicimus contracta quoque matrimonia ab huiusmodi personis disiungi et personas ad poenitentiam debere redigi iuxta sacrorum canonum diffinitionem iudicamus.

22. We condemn the alienations which have been made everywhere, especially by Otto, Jeremias, and perhaps Philip,[3] of the property of the exarchate of Ravenna. Moreover, we declare in general to be invalid the alienations made in whatever fashion by all persons, whether they were intruded or were canonically elected in the name of a bishop or an abbot, who should be consecrated in accordance with the usage of his own church, and the ordinations conferred by them without the consent of the clergy of the church or through simony. We also forbid absolutely that any cleric should presume to alienate in any way his prebend or any ecclesiastical benefice. Any such action in the past or the future shall be invalid and subject to canonical penalty.”

Alienationes quae specialiter per Ottonem Hieremiam seu forte Philippum ubilibet de possessionibus Ravennatis exarchatus factae sunt damnamus. Generaliter autem omnium per intrusionem seu canonice electorum sub episcopi nomine aut abbatis qui secundum usum ecclesiae suae consecrandus est alienationes quocunque modo factas necnon personarum ordinationes ab eisdem sine communi consensu clericorum ecclesiae sive per simoniam itidem factas irritas iudicamus. Illud etiam per omnia interdicimus ut nullus clericus praebendam suam seu aliquod ecclesiasticum beneficium aliquo modo alienare praesumat. Quod si praesumptum olim fuit vel aliquando fuerit irritum erit et canonicae ultioni subiacebit.