Council of Trent - Session 25

Source: history.hanover.edu

Pope Pius IV, Session 25, held from 3 to 4 December 1563.

• Chap. 1 - Living in accordance with the Rule
  All ReguIars shall order their lives in accordance with what is prescribed by the rule which they have professed; Superiors shall sedulously provide that this be done.
• Chap. 2 - Property is prohibited to Regulars
  Property is wholly prohibited to Regulars.
• Chap. 3 - All Monasteries shall be able to possess real property
  All Monasteries save those herein excepted, shall be able to possess real property: the number of persons therein to be determined by the amount of Income, or of Alms. No Monasteries, to be erected without the Bishop’s leave.
• Chap. 4 - Service of another, residing in a Monastery
  A Regular shall not, without the permission of his Superior, either place himself at the service of another, or retire from his Monastery: when sent to a University for study he shall reside in a Monastery.
• Chap. 5 - Enclosure and safety of Nuns
  Provision is made for the enclosure and safety of Nuns.
• Chap. 6 - Manner of choosing Regular Superiors
  Manner of choosing Regular Superiors.
• Chap. 7 - Appointment and Qualifications of Abbesses
  In what way, and what manner of, persons are to be chosen as Abbesses, or Superioresses by whatsoever other name; no one shall be appointed over two Nunneries.
• Chap. 8 - Regulation of Monasteries
  In what manner the regulation of Monasteries, which have not ordinary Regular visitors, is to be proceeded with.
• Chap. 9 - Convents of Nuns immediately subject to the Apostolic See
  Convents of Nuns immediately subject to the Apostolic See shall be governed by the Bishops; but others, by those deputed in the General Chapters, or by other Regulars.
• Chap. 10 - Nuns shall confess and receive Communion once a month
  Nuns shall confess and receive Communion once a month; an extraordinary Confessor shall be assigned them by the Bishop. The Eucharist shall not be reserved within the enclosure of the Convent.
• Chap. 11 - Monasteries charged with the cure of the souls of laymen
  In Monasteries, which are charged with the cure of the souls of laymen, they who exercise that cure shall be subject to the Bishop, and be by him previously examined, with certain exceptions.
• Chap. 12 - Episcopal censures, and festivals appointed in the diocese, shall be observed even by Regulars
  Episcopal censures, and festivals appointed in the diocese, shall be observed even by Regulars.
• Chap. 13 - The Bishop shall settle disputes about precedency
  The Bishop shall settle disputes about precedency. Exempted persons, not living in the more strict enclosures, are obliged to attend at public Processions.
• Chap. 14 - By whom punishment is to be inflicted on a Regular who sins publicly
  By whom punishment is to be inflicted on a Regular who sins publicly.
• Chap. 15 - Age for the Profession
  Profession shall not be made except after a year ’s probation, and at the age of sixteen years completed.
• Chap. 16 - Period of Probation
  Any renunciation made, or obligation entered into, previous to the two months’ nearest Profession, shall be null. The probation ended, the Novices shall either be professed, or dismissed. In the Religious order of Clerks of the Society of Jesus nothing is innovated. No part of the property of a Novice shall be given to a Monastery before Profession.
• Chap. 17 - Regulations Governing the Admission of Young Women to the Religious Habit
  If a girl, who is more than twelve years of age, wish to take the Regular Habit, she shall be questioned by the Ordinary, and again before Profession.
• Chap. 18 - Prohibitions Against Coercion in Women’s Entry to Religious Life
  No one shall, except in the cases by law expressed, compel a woman to enter a Monastery; or prevent her, if she desire to enter. The constitutions of the Penitents, or Convertites, shall all be preserved."
• Chap. 19 - Procedures for Claims of Invalid Religious Profession
  How to proceed in cases of pretended invalidity of profession.
• Chap. 20 - Visitation and Authority of Superiors Over Dependent Monasteries
  Superiors of orders not subject to bishops shall visit and correct inferior Monasteries, even though held in commendam.
• Chap. 21 - Appointment of Regulars Over Monasteries
  Over Monasteries, Religious of that same order shall be appointed."
• Chap. 22 - Implementation of the Decrees on the Reformation of Religious Orders
  The Decrees touching the Reformation of Regulars shall be carried into execution at once by all.