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The history of the popes, from the close of the middle ages : drawn ...

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THE DUTY OF RESIDENCE. 187<br />

plague in <strong>the</strong> Borgo, <strong>the</strong> parish priests were urged to visit<br />

<strong>the</strong> sick, and <strong>the</strong>n to make a report as to those in need, so<br />

that <strong>the</strong>y might be provided for and helped.^ <strong>The</strong>y were<br />

told above all to look after <strong>the</strong> poor, to exhort <strong>the</strong>m to lead<br />

Christian lives, and to give <strong>the</strong>m <strong>the</strong> sacraments at due<br />

times. 2<br />

If <strong>the</strong> Eternal City was httle by little to assume a new<br />

appearance in religious matters, it was necessary to purge<br />

if <strong>of</strong> many priests and prelates who, in forgetfulness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

duty, lived in Rome, far away <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir dioceses and bene-<br />

fices. Even in <strong>the</strong> first weeks after his election, Pius V.<br />

ordered Cardinals Morone, Corgna and Rebiba to summon<br />

all <strong>the</strong> bishops living in Rome, and to send back to <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

dioceses all who were not excused for some urgent reason.^<br />

At <strong>the</strong> congregation he again repeated this order in <strong>the</strong> presence<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> three Cardinals. <strong>The</strong> excuses which were made were<br />

received by <strong>the</strong> Pope with a bad grace (or at least so it was<br />

said in Rome) ;<br />

<strong>the</strong> bishops, he said, had no o<strong>the</strong>r duty than<br />

to repair to <strong>the</strong>ir dioceses, and to see to it that <strong>the</strong> reforms<br />

and decrees <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Council were enforced <strong>the</strong>re.* <strong>The</strong> parish<br />

priests received similar orders to those which <strong>the</strong> Pope had.<br />

already given to <strong>the</strong> bishops at an audience,^ and in order<br />

that it might be taken seriously he ordered <strong>the</strong> auditor <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> Apostolic Camera, Alessandro Riario, to take legal pro-<br />

ceedings against those who disobeyed.^ <strong>The</strong> penalty <strong>of</strong> se-<br />

^ *Avviso di Roma <strong>of</strong> August 14, 1568, ibid. 562 b ; cf. ibid. 573.<br />

*Avviso di Roma <strong>of</strong> September 4, 1568.<br />

a *Avviso di Roma <strong>of</strong> March 12, 1569, ibid. 1041, p. 40.<br />

3 *Avviso di Roma <strong>of</strong> January 26, 1566, ibid. lop, p. 172.<br />

Acta consist, <strong>of</strong> January 23, 1566, in Laderchi, 1566, n. ^6 ;<br />

GUILIK-EUBEL, 47.<br />

* *" Resideant, s'attenda alia riforma per mantener li decreti<br />

del Concilio." Avviso di Roma <strong>of</strong> February 16, 1566, Urb. 1040,<br />

p. 182, Vatican Library.<br />

6 *Avviso <strong>of</strong> February 24, 1566, ibid. 184b.<br />

* Motu proprio <strong>of</strong> June 10, 1566, in Laderchi, 1566, n. 46.<br />

Bull. Rom., VIL, 464. Riario was instructed to take summary<br />

proceeding against all " tam in Urbe quam alibi et ubique locorum<br />

existentes et in propriis diocesibus non residentes."

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